The Princess Royal (2024) s01e16 Episode Script
Episode 16
1
[The Princess Royal]
[Adapted from Mo Shu Bai's novel,
The Princess Royal on jjwxc.net]
[This is a work of fiction.]
[Episode 16]
Pei Wenxuan
has so much on his plate right now.
Can he handle it all?
And you,
do you think you can take charge of it?
I'm genuinely trying to help,
so I take care of it on his behalf.
I don't care
Mother.
It's my turn.
It's just handling the accounts, right?
I'll do it.
Your Highness,
with your noble status
However noble my status is,
I'm still Wenxuan's wife, aren't I?
Wenxuan is busy with state affairs,
so as his wife, isn't it my duty
to help him with managing accounts
and such matters?
Don't you have many things to do
in the Inspectorate Office?
No matter how hard it is for me,
it's worth it for Wenxuan.
As for the finances,
it's actually not a huge amount.
I already have my own fiefdom,
so I'll manage them all together.
Second Uncle.
Please mind your own business.
Right, Wenxuan?
Yes.
My wife is quite formidable.
Second Uncle,
you'd better not get on her nerves.
Liming!
Say something.
Give it to them.
Give
Give it to them?
Alright.
I have nothing more to say.
I have nothing to say!
Alright then.
In that case,
I'll send someone tomorrow
to check the accounts
and then move them
into the Princess's Mansion, okay?
Move them into the Princess's Mansion?
Your Highness,
are you suggesting
that Wenxuan should sever ties
with our family?
Third Uncle, you misunderstood.
Her Highness is just checking our assets
and keeping the warehouse keys
on my behalf.
Besides, moving them
into the Princess's Mansion
is only because of her noble status.
Grandfather,
since no one objects,
let's settle it this way.
Those of the same surname
are bound by blood
and there is no bond
stronger than blood ties.
Please, everyone,
I hope we can all support each other
and move forward hand in hand
in the days to come.
I am truly gratified
by Wenxuan's thoughts on this matter.
Let's consider this settled then.
Thank you, Grandfather.
Careful.
Wenxuan,
Mother isn't feeling well.
I need to leave with her now.
Slowly.
I'll take my leave now.
I'll come visit you another day,
Grandfather.
Good job.
I was so scared.
So stupid.
What was I supposed to do?
You too.
Don't give it to them then
if you are so capable.
Those from the noble families
must have brought
these crucial witnesses here
to kill them once and for all.
Quickly report this to Her Highness.
Yes.
I'll come over tomorrow
to check your assets.
Who knows if Pei Lixian
will stir up trouble again?
Just get whatever you can get.
Pei Lixian is clever.
He won't make things difficult for you
because of these trivial things.
Tomorrow night, just send anyone
to check the assets.
Focus on retrieving the land deed.
Got it.
Most of my father's estate is elsewhere.
Just instruct Tuoba Yan
to get them back one by one.
By the way,
do you trust him to handle
your father's assets?
Why wouldn't I be at ease?
Tuoba Yan works for you.
And now, you and I are on the same side.
So why should I worry?
You said "now."
Then what about the future?
♪May time itself ask me♪
The future?
♪How many glances does it take
in a lifetime♪
As for the future,
we'll know when it comes.
♪To be blessed
with your highs and your lows?♪
That's not like you.
You're always so calculating.
Don't you have any plans
for the future?
Or is your future
something I'm not meant to know?
♪Allowing the flower of love to bloom♪
Not at all.
♪I thought capturing your heart
meant forever♪
I've long planned my future.
I will
certainly have a future with you.
♪Even the hustle and bustle
can still feel lonely♪
What do you mean?
Am I not making myself clear?
You and I
won't part ways in the future.
♪Even if past moments
vanish without a trace♪
After all these years being together,
even if we are not husband and wife,
we are still family, right?
♪Grant me a ceaseless passion♪
♪Let me face trials and tribulations
with you♪
Yes.
You are right.
So it seems
that you will have to bear the title
of Mrs. Pei for a while.
♪May time itself ask me♪
It's just a title.
I don't care about it at all.
That's the attitude of someone
who achieves great things,
not sweating the small stuff.
Right, Mrs. Pei?
What are you doing?
Why are you so shy now?
You were putting on quite an act
at Pei's Mansion earlier.
I
Yes, that was an act.
That wasn't enough. Let's continue.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, bad news.
Something bad has happened.
What is it?
All the witnesses are dead.
Your Majesty.
Something bad has happened.
How dare he!
He knew I ordered Pingyue
to investigate the case,
yet he still acted boldly
and committed murder
to erase all evidence.
Your Majesty,
please calm down.
If we look at it
from a different perspective,
the Inspectorate Office
has already played
a deterrent role against them.
You do have a way with words.
From my perspective,
they don't take the Inspectorate Office
seriously at all.
Nevertheless,
it seems the Inspectorate Office
must be kept.
Go
and summon Consort Rou.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Luo Juan, the crucial witness,
will definitely be eliminated
by the noble families.
The establishment
of the Inspectorate Office
poses a significant threat
to the noble families.
So,
they will definitely try to find ways
to force you out.
If you win
this battle,
the Inspectorate Office's position
will be secure.
But if you lose,
it will be even more difficult
in the future
for His Highness or His Majesty
to establish another force
that is capable
of deterring the noble families.
Also,
there will be no hope for our future.
I need to go to the Ministry of Justice.
Your Majesty.
If Pingyue can't handle it,
would you dare
to take over the Inspectorate Office?
I and the warriors of the Xiao Family
are all at your command.
Your Highness,
Princess Pingyue has sent someone
to deliver a message.
What did she say?
She wants to see Qin Lang.
- Rong.
- Chuan.
I'll go in with you.
What are you doing here?
You shouldn't have come here.
There are too many people around.
Let's talk inside.
Your Highness, this way, please.
Let's go.
Your Highness,
you need to keep it brief.
They'll switch shifts in an hour.
Please be quick.
Got it.
You may go out and keep watch first.
Yes, Your Highness.
General Qin.
Are you Princess Pingyue
and the Crown Prince?
General Qin.
I'm in charge
of reviewing the Qin Family's case now.
Did you know that?
Your Highness,
did Zhenzhen come to see you?
Your Highness,
is Zhenzhen well?
We don't have much time.
How about you go through the case
from start to finish?
Your Highness,
where would you like me to start?
Huangping County.
This case began with Wen Ping
from the Censorate.
He received a report letter
accusing you of accepting bribes
from the Yang Family
and instructing the Qin Family
to intentionally abandon the city
during the battle
in Huangping County years ago.
Later,
they confirmed it
with the testimony
of Deputy General Luo Juan
as evidence.
They also used the taels of gold
found in your courtyard
and the letters written by Yang Ye
as supporting evidence.
I initially intended to ask Luo Juan
to testify for you,
but I just learned
that Luo Juan has already died.
Luo Juan is dead?
Yes.
All the commanders
who participated in the battle
in Huangping County have all died.
General Qin,
Her Highness is investigating the case.
We need evidence to overturn it.
You just need to tell us what you know.
Leave the rest to Her Highness and me.
Okay.
Alright.
In the battle in Huangping County,
there were three thousand soldiers
defending the city,
while there were also
three thousand enemies attacking us.
Originally, Yang Ye intended to order us
to defend the city for five days.
However, facing defeat
and unable to withstand the enemy,
we had no choice
but to evacuate the civilians first
and then abandon the city.
You defended the city
while they attacked.
With equal forces, theoretically,
you shouldn't have lost.
Why did you lose?
We didn't have enough soldiers.
Quickly, ask the soldiers
to get some rest.
General.
The provisions and funds arrived?
Excellent!
They've arrived, but
What's wrong?
General, please take a look.
It's filled with sand inside.
These darn scoundrels!
General.
How many people do we have left?
Including these wounded soldiers,
it totals three thousand.
Here's what we'll do.
Let's rinse the rice thoroughly,
add more water,
and distribute the rice soup
and congee to the soldiers.
We need to sustain ourselves
for as long as possible.
Yes, sir.
Unable to even fill our stomachs,
we may have only half our forces
fit for battle soon.
Later, there were less than two thousand
of them who could fight in the battle.
With provisions and funds
still not arriving,
if we persisted like that,
the remaining soldiers
would be trapped in the city
and eventually starved to death.
Have you reported these issues?
I've previously reported
and explained it.
It should be
at the end of the Military Record.
The Military Record
might have been gotten rid of
by the noble families long ago.
Let's do this instead.
Please write a list
of all relevant personnel for me.
Okay.
Your Highness, I'm done.
[Wang Pingning, Tian Ke, Tong Huangshi]
Your Highness, we have to go now.
Keep an eye on General Qin
and ensure nothing goes wrong.
Your Highness, rest assured.
I've already made the arrangements.
Your Highness, hurry
and leave quickly.
I'll take my leave now.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, how is Zhenzhen
doing right now?
She's safe. Please rest assured.
Good. Thank you, Your Highness.
You take care too.
Okay.
Let's go.
Xun Chuan.
Yes, Your Highness.
Hurry up and mobilize some manpower.
No matter what,
tonight, we have to get the Qins out
from the Ministry of Justice.
If there are any issues,
ask them to come to me.
Yes.
Rong, Xun Chuan
You go back first.
Don't let anyone find out
that you intervened.
Don't worry.
I know how to handle this.
Leave now.
Rong.
The Qins must stay alive.
You have my promise.
I'm leaving.
Walk with me.
Let's go.
Careful.
I really want to walk
while keeping my eyes closed for a bit.
I suddenly realized
that this seems to be the first time
we've ever worked hard together
on the same thing.
The first year after we got married,
our relationship was still okay, right?
Later on, when things happened,
we often argued.
The only time I felt touched by you
was when I was in prison.
Do you remember?
Back then, the Nie Family,
where one of the secondary consorts
of the Crown Prince came from,
committed atrocities.
Chuan was implicated
and I was imprisoned as a result.
The reason you felt touched
was because you thought
I would give up on you and His Highness
and join Consort Rou.
At that time, Chuan asked me
if you would help me.
Honestly, I wasn't sure
because I didn't think
we were on good terms.
It was all my fault.
I didn't give you a sense of security.
Pei Wenxuan.
I want you to take
the Inspectorate Office's and my tokens
and follow the route
the provisions and funds took
to Huangping Town back then.
Transcribe all the records
of the provisions and funds in transit
from the county offices along the way.
Now you trust me?
Don't flatter yourself.
You can more or less
put my mind at ease, I suppose.
Today, I interrogated Qin Lang.
They couldn't possibly be unaware of it.
Moreover, Qin Lang
provided a list of names,
which would put him in danger.
I've already arranged
for Xun Chuan to get him out.
Tomorrow during the morning audience,
I will also request
to be placed under house arrest.
This isn't the only way.
But it's the best way.
In twenty days,
the Qin Family
is scheduled to be executed.
By then
can you come back with the evidence?
The journey
might not be safe.
So you must be careful.
If I leave the capital
and investigate the accounts
of the grain depots along the way,
it won't just be unsafe.
It might get me killed.
But it doesn't matter.
I'm at Your Highness's beck and call.
I would always die for you
without hesitation.
I will set out immediately.
Pei Wenxuan.
I'll wait for your return.
There will be a reward
if you handle it well.
Take care.
It's no big deal.
The enemy is approaching, everyone.
By order of Her Highness,
secure the gates!
- Yes!
- Yes!
Ms. Xun Chuan.
The Qins have arrived.
Thank you.
Mr. Pei is a civil official,
yet he's traveling day and night
for Her Highness.
Can he take it?
I can barely
feel my legs.
Why hasn't Tian Sheng returned
from buying supplies?
What's taking him so long?
Mr. Pei, I'm back.
Take this.
Mr. Pei,
you were drawing when I left,
and now that I'm back,
you're still drawing.
Just sketching casually,
refining my character,
and elevating my mind.
By the way, sir,
here's the ointment you asked me to buy.
What ointment?
Shouldn't it be moisturizer?
Did I buy the wrong thing?
No, sir,
you asked me to buy Jinchuang Ointment.
The physician also said
it was normal for your buttocks
and feet to get worn out
from long-distance riding.
What buttocks
It's not that severe.
It's just the shoes caused my skin
to peel off my heel.
By the way, sir,
the physician specifically instructed
that once you applied
his Jinchuang Ointment
and rested well for two days,
you'd recover.
So, shall we take a break here?
I already said it was not that severe.
It's just the shoes caused my skin
to peel off my heel.
I'll apply some Jinchuang Ointment
to my foot,
and then we can hit the road.
Yes, sir.
Take it.
It's just the shoes caused my skin
to peel off my heel.
I'll be fine once I apply
some Jinchuang Ointment.
Do not tell anyone about this.
- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.
Especially Her Highness.
- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.
Come here.
Look.
[Rong]
[Su's Mansion]
Please.
- Father.
- Master.
The Qins were rescued
from the Ministry of Justice by Li Rong.
Go keep an eye on Pei Wenxuan,
especially towards the direction
leading out of the city.
He will definitely take action.
Yes, sir.
There are many noble families involved
in the Qin Family's case.
If Her Highness keeps
investigating further,
she may be in danger.
This won't do.
I must go into the palace immediately
and ask Li Rong to send the people
back to the Ministry of Justice.
Father, please wait.
Let me go meet Princess Pingyue first.
Please wait for my news.
Your Highness, Ms. Xun Chuan is here.
Your Highness.
How is Mr. Qin?
Thankfully,
his life has been saved.
You two may leave now.
Yes, Your Highness.
Take a seat.
He brought you up, right?
Yes.
Have you thought
about telling him about your situation?
For now,
I'll hold off on saying too much.
If I tell him,
he'll be worried about me.
Just let him know I'm still alive
and he'll be reassured.
Okay.
Take this name list.
I might be trapped in the palace,
so you'll have two things to do.
First, protect the Qins.
Don't allow anyone to take them away
from the Princess's Mansion.
Got it.
Second, go and see Shangguan Ya.
Sort out the suitable candidates
from this list
and obtain testimony from witnesses
who embezzled military provisions
and funds in Huangping County back then.
Yes.
[Princess's Mansion]
The Ministry of Justice
is handling a case
and we are here to apprehend fugitives.
Your Highness. Your Highness,
it's Mr. Su who has come with people
from the Ministry of Justice.
They say that they want to see you.
Don't panic.
Help me get changed.
Sir, we've been followed.
Find an inn up ahead.
We'll get some rest.
Rest?
Yes.
[Princess's Mansion]
Mr. Su, you're showing
your authority here.
You've brought so many people
to my mansion this early in the morning.
May I ask what the reason for this is?
Your Highness.
The prisoners detained
by the Ministry of Justice
has somehow been brought
to your mansion.
According to our laws,
this action violates
national regulations.
It would be best
if you handed over the prisoners.
If you do, I will pretend this incident
of breaking into the jail
and rescuing prisoners never happened.
Breaking into the jail
and rescuing prisoners?
The Qin Family's case
is being investigated
by my Inspectorate Office.
Now, someone I need to interrogate
is in danger,
so I have specially brought them here
for interrogation and protection.
How can this be called
breaking into the jail?
Your Highness, even if you
need to interrogate a prisoner,
you must follow
the proper legal procedures
and obtain approval
from the relevant officials.
You should hand them over.
You must know this.
The Inspectorate Office
has not been fully established yet.
Your Highness,
this is the only way I can protect you.
Are you threatening me?
So you are threatening me.
Your Highness, I am doing this
for your own good.
You're not doing this for my benefit
but for the Su Family
and the power of the noble families
behind you.
Mr. Su.
It's natural for people
to do things for their own good.
You don't need
to justify yourself so grandly.
You don't need to threaten me either.
If you want to complain, go ahead.
The morning audience is about to begin
and I'll be waiting for you
to complain about me
in the hall.
Why don't you believe me?
Why do you always
interpret everyone's good intentions
as malicious intention?
Everything you're doing now
will only cause harm
and bring no benefits.
What are you seeking?
What am I seeking?
I suppose I am seeking peace of mind.
♪It's like standing on the edge
of a bottomless abyss♪
♪But here,
the blossoms you adore abound♪
♪How do I shout out the words
I want to say?♪
♪But the wind in the valley
gently ceases its whispers♪
I once thought
we were the same kind of people.
♪Snow falls silently, petal by petal♪
But now I see that may not be true.
You may be willing
to sacrifice everything,
conscience, righteousness,
even your life,
for the sake of your family.
I can't say for sure
if one day,
you'll become someone like Yang Ye.
♪The moment I see the sunset♪
He started with youthful idealism,
but later for the power
and glory of his family,
he betrayed the country.
♪My world gradually falls apart
as we fail to understand each other♪
But I cannot do that.
If I did,
I would never
find peace
in my life.
Today, I cannot stand by and watch
the Qin Family suffer injustice
and meet a miserable end.
If one day,
the Su Family faces injustice
I will also not hesitate to intervene,
just as I am doing now.
You're right.
If I were only pursuing power,
everything I'm doing today
wouldn't benefit me much.
I should align myself
with the noble families
and not establish
the Inspectorate Office
or investigate the Qin Family's case.
But my pursuit of power
isn't about elevating myself
above others.
It's about living in a world
that aligns with my values.
It's a world of justice and fairness.
Fairness.
The word fairness
is too precious
and seldom encountered a term
in this world.
Mr. Su, there's no need to persuade me
or try to stop me.
Your persuasion won't change my mind,
nor can you stop me.
If you truly disagree,
feel free to confront me directly.
The Crown Prince and I
are not on the same path.
I will walk
my own path.
- Mr. Pei.
- Mr. Pei.
How come only you two are here?
Where are the others?
They're having diarrhea
from the change in environment,
so they won't be dining with you.
Got it. Sit down and eat.
- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.
Pei Wenxuan's purpose on this trip
must be to collect the Military Record.
Since he won't work for us,
he must be eliminated.
Pingyue,
last night, I received a memorial
reporting that you broke
into the Ministry of Justice at night
and took away the entire Qin Family.
What?
Has it become your habit
to cause trouble
at the Ministry of Justice now?
Your Majesty,
please punish Her Highness severely.
Please punish her severely.
Please punish her severely.
Please strip her of her fiefdom
and punish her severely.
Pingyue, you heard them
and you saw their reaction.
After causing such a big trouble,
have you managed to find anything?
Not yet.
However, during the investigation,
I found that all the witnesses
had been killed
and most of the evidence
had been destroyed.
I'm still investigating.
Please give me some more time, Father.
They are actually all dead?
It was on the outskirts of the city.
Their corpses were left in the wild
after they were all killed.
Father,
if the witnesses of a case
were all killed,
don't you think there must be
something wrong with the case?
Your Majesty, the witnesses are dead,
but the evidence is still there.
Yang Ye's letters are verified.
The taels of gold they took as bribes
were also found in Qin's Mansion.
These pieces of evidence
have been verified
by the Censorate, Ministry of Justice,
and Court of Judicial Review.
Do you think
that all these three organizations
are deceiving you here?
Isn't that possible?
When I established
the Inspectorate Office,
what you've been thinking
is to seize power
and make me yield.
You are the Minister
of the Ministry of Justice.
When faced with such a case
that's full of doubts,
you're not thinking
about how to investigate it
to uncover the truth.
Yet you only think
about pulling strings behind the scenes.
You don't take people's lives
seriously at all.
How can I not be furious?
I know very well
what you are planning to do.
But let me tell you.
The Qin Family
who have been wronged and killed by you
are not just a few ministers
or a few living and breathing people.
They are the walls defending our border
and the backbone of the Great Xia.
What you seek to ruin today
is the prosperity
and future of the Great Xia.
Therefore,
I will never back down.
Go after them!
I'll bear the responsibility
for intruding
into the Ministry of Justice.
But let me ask you this.
Do you dare to leave
the Qins in my hands?
Do you dare to let me investigate
the Qin Family's case?
Since you claim
that the death of witnesses
has no connection
to the Qin Family's case,
then why are you afraid
of my investigation?
Your Majesty, it's not that I'm afraid
of Her Highness investigating the case,
I'm just worried
that she'd continue to cause trouble.
What if I vouch for her?
I'm afraid you can't
restrain Princess Pingyue.
What do you want then?
I'll definitely continue to investigate
the Qin Family's case.
You still need to be punished.
Your Majesty,
as the Minister
of the Ministry of Justice,
I cannot tolerate someone
flagrantly disregarding the law.
Even if you are a princess,
you should still abide
by the principles set by His Majesty.
Very well.
I will do as you wish, Mr. Xie.
Father,
I was wrong to intrude
into the Ministry of Justice.
I willingly accept the punishment
of being flogged thirty times
and reciting scriptures
at Beiyan Pagoda for a month.
However, the Ministry of Justice
failed in their duties
by not adequately protecting
key witnesses,
indirectly leading to their deaths.
This is their first wrongdoing.
Father appointed me to take charge
of the Inspectorate Office,
but the Ministry of Justice
refused to follow imperial orders
and did not fully cooperate
with the investigation.
Instead, under the guise of regulations,
they obstructed me in every way,
disregarding Father's authority.
This is their second wrongdoing.
Your Majesty
Now, upon learning of the deaths
of the witnesses
and the doubts in this case,
they have neglected their duties,
refusing to investigate thoroughly.
This is their third wrongdoing.
That's completely nonsense.
Mr. Xie is the Minister
of the Ministry of Justice
and he's in charge of it.
Yet now, the Ministry of Justice
is plagued with numerous problems.
Mr. Xie has to be held accountable.
I voluntarily accept my punishment.
However, cleaning up the Ministry
of Justice is imperative.
Although these three wrongdoings
are mainly shown
through the Qin Family's case,
the overall situation
can still be deduced.
The Ministry of Justice's usual ways
of handling cases
are indeed harmful to the state.
Father, please thoroughly investigate them
without any leniency.
My niece is different now.
What Her Highness said is reasonable.
I request you to thoroughly investigate
those in the Ministry of Justice,
Your Majesty.
- Please punish
- Please punish
- the Ministry of Justice severely.
- the Ministry of Justice severely.
Father.
Since I've already
intervened in the Qin Family's case,
I will not quit so easily.
Please grant me another twenty days.
Your Majesty, please don't
If nothing is uncovered
after twenty days,
it will prove that there is no injustice
in the Qin Family's case
and that I have been unreasonable.
I shall willingly accept my punishment
of being expelled from the capital
and return to my fiefdom.
I'll never enter the capital again.
Your request is granted.
Your Highness.
[Beiyan Pagoda]
Guard our residence.
As soon as you hear something
from my husband,
come and let me know.
Yes, Your Highness.
[Beiyan Pagoda]
Rong has completely betrayed
the Shangguan Family.
As her mother, did you know this?
I don't know
what happened to this child.
Ever since her wedding day,
it's like she's become
a different person.
It seems Pei Wenxuan
has had a significant influence on her.
I guess
it's the only explanation.
You should go to Beiyan Pagoda
and tell her
not to wait for Pei Wenxuan.
♪Who gazes at the sky from afar?♪
♪Who gazes at the sky from afar?♪
♪In the night's chill breeze♪
♪What is she singing for?♪
♪The wind caresses the hills♪
♪The wind causes ripples on calm water♪
♪Moonlight graces passing souls♪
♪Her steps get slower and slower♪
♪She's trod a long path♪
♪Memories lost then found♪
♪Gazing idly as clouds roll by♪
♪She holds a red candle♪
♪To brave the thick fog♪
♪Life can be bitter sometimes♪
♪Experience it with grace♪
♪Like a fleeting dream♪
♪Like a fleeting dream♪
♪Neither warmth nor cold will last♪
♪Like a fleeting dream♪
♪Like a fleeting dream♪
♪The moon is reflected in her eyes♪
♪In her gaze,
the unwavering faith remains♪
[The Princess Royal]
[Adapted from Mo Shu Bai's novel,
The Princess Royal on jjwxc.net]
[This is a work of fiction.]
[Episode 16]
Pei Wenxuan
has so much on his plate right now.
Can he handle it all?
And you,
do you think you can take charge of it?
I'm genuinely trying to help,
so I take care of it on his behalf.
I don't care
Mother.
It's my turn.
It's just handling the accounts, right?
I'll do it.
Your Highness,
with your noble status
However noble my status is,
I'm still Wenxuan's wife, aren't I?
Wenxuan is busy with state affairs,
so as his wife, isn't it my duty
to help him with managing accounts
and such matters?
Don't you have many things to do
in the Inspectorate Office?
No matter how hard it is for me,
it's worth it for Wenxuan.
As for the finances,
it's actually not a huge amount.
I already have my own fiefdom,
so I'll manage them all together.
Second Uncle.
Please mind your own business.
Right, Wenxuan?
Yes.
My wife is quite formidable.
Second Uncle,
you'd better not get on her nerves.
Liming!
Say something.
Give it to them.
Give
Give it to them?
Alright.
I have nothing more to say.
I have nothing to say!
Alright then.
In that case,
I'll send someone tomorrow
to check the accounts
and then move them
into the Princess's Mansion, okay?
Move them into the Princess's Mansion?
Your Highness,
are you suggesting
that Wenxuan should sever ties
with our family?
Third Uncle, you misunderstood.
Her Highness is just checking our assets
and keeping the warehouse keys
on my behalf.
Besides, moving them
into the Princess's Mansion
is only because of her noble status.
Grandfather,
since no one objects,
let's settle it this way.
Those of the same surname
are bound by blood
and there is no bond
stronger than blood ties.
Please, everyone,
I hope we can all support each other
and move forward hand in hand
in the days to come.
I am truly gratified
by Wenxuan's thoughts on this matter.
Let's consider this settled then.
Thank you, Grandfather.
Careful.
Wenxuan,
Mother isn't feeling well.
I need to leave with her now.
Slowly.
I'll take my leave now.
I'll come visit you another day,
Grandfather.
Good job.
I was so scared.
So stupid.
What was I supposed to do?
You too.
Don't give it to them then
if you are so capable.
Those from the noble families
must have brought
these crucial witnesses here
to kill them once and for all.
Quickly report this to Her Highness.
Yes.
I'll come over tomorrow
to check your assets.
Who knows if Pei Lixian
will stir up trouble again?
Just get whatever you can get.
Pei Lixian is clever.
He won't make things difficult for you
because of these trivial things.
Tomorrow night, just send anyone
to check the assets.
Focus on retrieving the land deed.
Got it.
Most of my father's estate is elsewhere.
Just instruct Tuoba Yan
to get them back one by one.
By the way,
do you trust him to handle
your father's assets?
Why wouldn't I be at ease?
Tuoba Yan works for you.
And now, you and I are on the same side.
So why should I worry?
You said "now."
Then what about the future?
♪May time itself ask me♪
The future?
♪How many glances does it take
in a lifetime♪
As for the future,
we'll know when it comes.
♪To be blessed
with your highs and your lows?♪
That's not like you.
You're always so calculating.
Don't you have any plans
for the future?
Or is your future
something I'm not meant to know?
♪Allowing the flower of love to bloom♪
Not at all.
♪I thought capturing your heart
meant forever♪
I've long planned my future.
I will
certainly have a future with you.
♪Even the hustle and bustle
can still feel lonely♪
What do you mean?
Am I not making myself clear?
You and I
won't part ways in the future.
♪Even if past moments
vanish without a trace♪
After all these years being together,
even if we are not husband and wife,
we are still family, right?
♪Grant me a ceaseless passion♪
♪Let me face trials and tribulations
with you♪
Yes.
You are right.
So it seems
that you will have to bear the title
of Mrs. Pei for a while.
♪May time itself ask me♪
It's just a title.
I don't care about it at all.
That's the attitude of someone
who achieves great things,
not sweating the small stuff.
Right, Mrs. Pei?
What are you doing?
Why are you so shy now?
You were putting on quite an act
at Pei's Mansion earlier.
I
Yes, that was an act.
That wasn't enough. Let's continue.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, bad news.
Something bad has happened.
What is it?
All the witnesses are dead.
Your Majesty.
Something bad has happened.
How dare he!
He knew I ordered Pingyue
to investigate the case,
yet he still acted boldly
and committed murder
to erase all evidence.
Your Majesty,
please calm down.
If we look at it
from a different perspective,
the Inspectorate Office
has already played
a deterrent role against them.
You do have a way with words.
From my perspective,
they don't take the Inspectorate Office
seriously at all.
Nevertheless,
it seems the Inspectorate Office
must be kept.
Go
and summon Consort Rou.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Luo Juan, the crucial witness,
will definitely be eliminated
by the noble families.
The establishment
of the Inspectorate Office
poses a significant threat
to the noble families.
So,
they will definitely try to find ways
to force you out.
If you win
this battle,
the Inspectorate Office's position
will be secure.
But if you lose,
it will be even more difficult
in the future
for His Highness or His Majesty
to establish another force
that is capable
of deterring the noble families.
Also,
there will be no hope for our future.
I need to go to the Ministry of Justice.
Your Majesty.
If Pingyue can't handle it,
would you dare
to take over the Inspectorate Office?
I and the warriors of the Xiao Family
are all at your command.
Your Highness,
Princess Pingyue has sent someone
to deliver a message.
What did she say?
She wants to see Qin Lang.
- Rong.
- Chuan.
I'll go in with you.
What are you doing here?
You shouldn't have come here.
There are too many people around.
Let's talk inside.
Your Highness, this way, please.
Let's go.
Your Highness,
you need to keep it brief.
They'll switch shifts in an hour.
Please be quick.
Got it.
You may go out and keep watch first.
Yes, Your Highness.
General Qin.
Are you Princess Pingyue
and the Crown Prince?
General Qin.
I'm in charge
of reviewing the Qin Family's case now.
Did you know that?
Your Highness,
did Zhenzhen come to see you?
Your Highness,
is Zhenzhen well?
We don't have much time.
How about you go through the case
from start to finish?
Your Highness,
where would you like me to start?
Huangping County.
This case began with Wen Ping
from the Censorate.
He received a report letter
accusing you of accepting bribes
from the Yang Family
and instructing the Qin Family
to intentionally abandon the city
during the battle
in Huangping County years ago.
Later,
they confirmed it
with the testimony
of Deputy General Luo Juan
as evidence.
They also used the taels of gold
found in your courtyard
and the letters written by Yang Ye
as supporting evidence.
I initially intended to ask Luo Juan
to testify for you,
but I just learned
that Luo Juan has already died.
Luo Juan is dead?
Yes.
All the commanders
who participated in the battle
in Huangping County have all died.
General Qin,
Her Highness is investigating the case.
We need evidence to overturn it.
You just need to tell us what you know.
Leave the rest to Her Highness and me.
Okay.
Alright.
In the battle in Huangping County,
there were three thousand soldiers
defending the city,
while there were also
three thousand enemies attacking us.
Originally, Yang Ye intended to order us
to defend the city for five days.
However, facing defeat
and unable to withstand the enemy,
we had no choice
but to evacuate the civilians first
and then abandon the city.
You defended the city
while they attacked.
With equal forces, theoretically,
you shouldn't have lost.
Why did you lose?
We didn't have enough soldiers.
Quickly, ask the soldiers
to get some rest.
General.
The provisions and funds arrived?
Excellent!
They've arrived, but
What's wrong?
General, please take a look.
It's filled with sand inside.
These darn scoundrels!
General.
How many people do we have left?
Including these wounded soldiers,
it totals three thousand.
Here's what we'll do.
Let's rinse the rice thoroughly,
add more water,
and distribute the rice soup
and congee to the soldiers.
We need to sustain ourselves
for as long as possible.
Yes, sir.
Unable to even fill our stomachs,
we may have only half our forces
fit for battle soon.
Later, there were less than two thousand
of them who could fight in the battle.
With provisions and funds
still not arriving,
if we persisted like that,
the remaining soldiers
would be trapped in the city
and eventually starved to death.
Have you reported these issues?
I've previously reported
and explained it.
It should be
at the end of the Military Record.
The Military Record
might have been gotten rid of
by the noble families long ago.
Let's do this instead.
Please write a list
of all relevant personnel for me.
Okay.
Your Highness, I'm done.
[Wang Pingning, Tian Ke, Tong Huangshi]
Your Highness, we have to go now.
Keep an eye on General Qin
and ensure nothing goes wrong.
Your Highness, rest assured.
I've already made the arrangements.
Your Highness, hurry
and leave quickly.
I'll take my leave now.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, how is Zhenzhen
doing right now?
She's safe. Please rest assured.
Good. Thank you, Your Highness.
You take care too.
Okay.
Let's go.
Xun Chuan.
Yes, Your Highness.
Hurry up and mobilize some manpower.
No matter what,
tonight, we have to get the Qins out
from the Ministry of Justice.
If there are any issues,
ask them to come to me.
Yes.
Rong, Xun Chuan
You go back first.
Don't let anyone find out
that you intervened.
Don't worry.
I know how to handle this.
Leave now.
Rong.
The Qins must stay alive.
You have my promise.
I'm leaving.
Walk with me.
Let's go.
Careful.
I really want to walk
while keeping my eyes closed for a bit.
I suddenly realized
that this seems to be the first time
we've ever worked hard together
on the same thing.
The first year after we got married,
our relationship was still okay, right?
Later on, when things happened,
we often argued.
The only time I felt touched by you
was when I was in prison.
Do you remember?
Back then, the Nie Family,
where one of the secondary consorts
of the Crown Prince came from,
committed atrocities.
Chuan was implicated
and I was imprisoned as a result.
The reason you felt touched
was because you thought
I would give up on you and His Highness
and join Consort Rou.
At that time, Chuan asked me
if you would help me.
Honestly, I wasn't sure
because I didn't think
we were on good terms.
It was all my fault.
I didn't give you a sense of security.
Pei Wenxuan.
I want you to take
the Inspectorate Office's and my tokens
and follow the route
the provisions and funds took
to Huangping Town back then.
Transcribe all the records
of the provisions and funds in transit
from the county offices along the way.
Now you trust me?
Don't flatter yourself.
You can more or less
put my mind at ease, I suppose.
Today, I interrogated Qin Lang.
They couldn't possibly be unaware of it.
Moreover, Qin Lang
provided a list of names,
which would put him in danger.
I've already arranged
for Xun Chuan to get him out.
Tomorrow during the morning audience,
I will also request
to be placed under house arrest.
This isn't the only way.
But it's the best way.
In twenty days,
the Qin Family
is scheduled to be executed.
By then
can you come back with the evidence?
The journey
might not be safe.
So you must be careful.
If I leave the capital
and investigate the accounts
of the grain depots along the way,
it won't just be unsafe.
It might get me killed.
But it doesn't matter.
I'm at Your Highness's beck and call.
I would always die for you
without hesitation.
I will set out immediately.
Pei Wenxuan.
I'll wait for your return.
There will be a reward
if you handle it well.
Take care.
It's no big deal.
The enemy is approaching, everyone.
By order of Her Highness,
secure the gates!
- Yes!
- Yes!
Ms. Xun Chuan.
The Qins have arrived.
Thank you.
Mr. Pei is a civil official,
yet he's traveling day and night
for Her Highness.
Can he take it?
I can barely
feel my legs.
Why hasn't Tian Sheng returned
from buying supplies?
What's taking him so long?
Mr. Pei, I'm back.
Take this.
Mr. Pei,
you were drawing when I left,
and now that I'm back,
you're still drawing.
Just sketching casually,
refining my character,
and elevating my mind.
By the way, sir,
here's the ointment you asked me to buy.
What ointment?
Shouldn't it be moisturizer?
Did I buy the wrong thing?
No, sir,
you asked me to buy Jinchuang Ointment.
The physician also said
it was normal for your buttocks
and feet to get worn out
from long-distance riding.
What buttocks
It's not that severe.
It's just the shoes caused my skin
to peel off my heel.
By the way, sir,
the physician specifically instructed
that once you applied
his Jinchuang Ointment
and rested well for two days,
you'd recover.
So, shall we take a break here?
I already said it was not that severe.
It's just the shoes caused my skin
to peel off my heel.
I'll apply some Jinchuang Ointment
to my foot,
and then we can hit the road.
Yes, sir.
Take it.
It's just the shoes caused my skin
to peel off my heel.
I'll be fine once I apply
some Jinchuang Ointment.
Do not tell anyone about this.
- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.
Especially Her Highness.
- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.
Come here.
Look.
[Rong]
[Su's Mansion]
Please.
- Father.
- Master.
The Qins were rescued
from the Ministry of Justice by Li Rong.
Go keep an eye on Pei Wenxuan,
especially towards the direction
leading out of the city.
He will definitely take action.
Yes, sir.
There are many noble families involved
in the Qin Family's case.
If Her Highness keeps
investigating further,
she may be in danger.
This won't do.
I must go into the palace immediately
and ask Li Rong to send the people
back to the Ministry of Justice.
Father, please wait.
Let me go meet Princess Pingyue first.
Please wait for my news.
Your Highness, Ms. Xun Chuan is here.
Your Highness.
How is Mr. Qin?
Thankfully,
his life has been saved.
You two may leave now.
Yes, Your Highness.
Take a seat.
He brought you up, right?
Yes.
Have you thought
about telling him about your situation?
For now,
I'll hold off on saying too much.
If I tell him,
he'll be worried about me.
Just let him know I'm still alive
and he'll be reassured.
Okay.
Take this name list.
I might be trapped in the palace,
so you'll have two things to do.
First, protect the Qins.
Don't allow anyone to take them away
from the Princess's Mansion.
Got it.
Second, go and see Shangguan Ya.
Sort out the suitable candidates
from this list
and obtain testimony from witnesses
who embezzled military provisions
and funds in Huangping County back then.
Yes.
[Princess's Mansion]
The Ministry of Justice
is handling a case
and we are here to apprehend fugitives.
Your Highness. Your Highness,
it's Mr. Su who has come with people
from the Ministry of Justice.
They say that they want to see you.
Don't panic.
Help me get changed.
Sir, we've been followed.
Find an inn up ahead.
We'll get some rest.
Rest?
Yes.
[Princess's Mansion]
Mr. Su, you're showing
your authority here.
You've brought so many people
to my mansion this early in the morning.
May I ask what the reason for this is?
Your Highness.
The prisoners detained
by the Ministry of Justice
has somehow been brought
to your mansion.
According to our laws,
this action violates
national regulations.
It would be best
if you handed over the prisoners.
If you do, I will pretend this incident
of breaking into the jail
and rescuing prisoners never happened.
Breaking into the jail
and rescuing prisoners?
The Qin Family's case
is being investigated
by my Inspectorate Office.
Now, someone I need to interrogate
is in danger,
so I have specially brought them here
for interrogation and protection.
How can this be called
breaking into the jail?
Your Highness, even if you
need to interrogate a prisoner,
you must follow
the proper legal procedures
and obtain approval
from the relevant officials.
You should hand them over.
You must know this.
The Inspectorate Office
has not been fully established yet.
Your Highness,
this is the only way I can protect you.
Are you threatening me?
So you are threatening me.
Your Highness, I am doing this
for your own good.
You're not doing this for my benefit
but for the Su Family
and the power of the noble families
behind you.
Mr. Su.
It's natural for people
to do things for their own good.
You don't need
to justify yourself so grandly.
You don't need to threaten me either.
If you want to complain, go ahead.
The morning audience is about to begin
and I'll be waiting for you
to complain about me
in the hall.
Why don't you believe me?
Why do you always
interpret everyone's good intentions
as malicious intention?
Everything you're doing now
will only cause harm
and bring no benefits.
What are you seeking?
What am I seeking?
I suppose I am seeking peace of mind.
♪It's like standing on the edge
of a bottomless abyss♪
♪But here,
the blossoms you adore abound♪
♪How do I shout out the words
I want to say?♪
♪But the wind in the valley
gently ceases its whispers♪
I once thought
we were the same kind of people.
♪Snow falls silently, petal by petal♪
But now I see that may not be true.
You may be willing
to sacrifice everything,
conscience, righteousness,
even your life,
for the sake of your family.
I can't say for sure
if one day,
you'll become someone like Yang Ye.
♪The moment I see the sunset♪
He started with youthful idealism,
but later for the power
and glory of his family,
he betrayed the country.
♪My world gradually falls apart
as we fail to understand each other♪
But I cannot do that.
If I did,
I would never
find peace
in my life.
Today, I cannot stand by and watch
the Qin Family suffer injustice
and meet a miserable end.
If one day,
the Su Family faces injustice
I will also not hesitate to intervene,
just as I am doing now.
You're right.
If I were only pursuing power,
everything I'm doing today
wouldn't benefit me much.
I should align myself
with the noble families
and not establish
the Inspectorate Office
or investigate the Qin Family's case.
But my pursuit of power
isn't about elevating myself
above others.
It's about living in a world
that aligns with my values.
It's a world of justice and fairness.
Fairness.
The word fairness
is too precious
and seldom encountered a term
in this world.
Mr. Su, there's no need to persuade me
or try to stop me.
Your persuasion won't change my mind,
nor can you stop me.
If you truly disagree,
feel free to confront me directly.
The Crown Prince and I
are not on the same path.
I will walk
my own path.
- Mr. Pei.
- Mr. Pei.
How come only you two are here?
Where are the others?
They're having diarrhea
from the change in environment,
so they won't be dining with you.
Got it. Sit down and eat.
- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.
Pei Wenxuan's purpose on this trip
must be to collect the Military Record.
Since he won't work for us,
he must be eliminated.
Pingyue,
last night, I received a memorial
reporting that you broke
into the Ministry of Justice at night
and took away the entire Qin Family.
What?
Has it become your habit
to cause trouble
at the Ministry of Justice now?
Your Majesty,
please punish Her Highness severely.
Please punish her severely.
Please punish her severely.
Please strip her of her fiefdom
and punish her severely.
Pingyue, you heard them
and you saw their reaction.
After causing such a big trouble,
have you managed to find anything?
Not yet.
However, during the investigation,
I found that all the witnesses
had been killed
and most of the evidence
had been destroyed.
I'm still investigating.
Please give me some more time, Father.
They are actually all dead?
It was on the outskirts of the city.
Their corpses were left in the wild
after they were all killed.
Father,
if the witnesses of a case
were all killed,
don't you think there must be
something wrong with the case?
Your Majesty, the witnesses are dead,
but the evidence is still there.
Yang Ye's letters are verified.
The taels of gold they took as bribes
were also found in Qin's Mansion.
These pieces of evidence
have been verified
by the Censorate, Ministry of Justice,
and Court of Judicial Review.
Do you think
that all these three organizations
are deceiving you here?
Isn't that possible?
When I established
the Inspectorate Office,
what you've been thinking
is to seize power
and make me yield.
You are the Minister
of the Ministry of Justice.
When faced with such a case
that's full of doubts,
you're not thinking
about how to investigate it
to uncover the truth.
Yet you only think
about pulling strings behind the scenes.
You don't take people's lives
seriously at all.
How can I not be furious?
I know very well
what you are planning to do.
But let me tell you.
The Qin Family
who have been wronged and killed by you
are not just a few ministers
or a few living and breathing people.
They are the walls defending our border
and the backbone of the Great Xia.
What you seek to ruin today
is the prosperity
and future of the Great Xia.
Therefore,
I will never back down.
Go after them!
I'll bear the responsibility
for intruding
into the Ministry of Justice.
But let me ask you this.
Do you dare to leave
the Qins in my hands?
Do you dare to let me investigate
the Qin Family's case?
Since you claim
that the death of witnesses
has no connection
to the Qin Family's case,
then why are you afraid
of my investigation?
Your Majesty, it's not that I'm afraid
of Her Highness investigating the case,
I'm just worried
that she'd continue to cause trouble.
What if I vouch for her?
I'm afraid you can't
restrain Princess Pingyue.
What do you want then?
I'll definitely continue to investigate
the Qin Family's case.
You still need to be punished.
Your Majesty,
as the Minister
of the Ministry of Justice,
I cannot tolerate someone
flagrantly disregarding the law.
Even if you are a princess,
you should still abide
by the principles set by His Majesty.
Very well.
I will do as you wish, Mr. Xie.
Father,
I was wrong to intrude
into the Ministry of Justice.
I willingly accept the punishment
of being flogged thirty times
and reciting scriptures
at Beiyan Pagoda for a month.
However, the Ministry of Justice
failed in their duties
by not adequately protecting
key witnesses,
indirectly leading to their deaths.
This is their first wrongdoing.
Father appointed me to take charge
of the Inspectorate Office,
but the Ministry of Justice
refused to follow imperial orders
and did not fully cooperate
with the investigation.
Instead, under the guise of regulations,
they obstructed me in every way,
disregarding Father's authority.
This is their second wrongdoing.
Your Majesty
Now, upon learning of the deaths
of the witnesses
and the doubts in this case,
they have neglected their duties,
refusing to investigate thoroughly.
This is their third wrongdoing.
That's completely nonsense.
Mr. Xie is the Minister
of the Ministry of Justice
and he's in charge of it.
Yet now, the Ministry of Justice
is plagued with numerous problems.
Mr. Xie has to be held accountable.
I voluntarily accept my punishment.
However, cleaning up the Ministry
of Justice is imperative.
Although these three wrongdoings
are mainly shown
through the Qin Family's case,
the overall situation
can still be deduced.
The Ministry of Justice's usual ways
of handling cases
are indeed harmful to the state.
Father, please thoroughly investigate them
without any leniency.
My niece is different now.
What Her Highness said is reasonable.
I request you to thoroughly investigate
those in the Ministry of Justice,
Your Majesty.
- Please punish
- Please punish
- the Ministry of Justice severely.
- the Ministry of Justice severely.
Father.
Since I've already
intervened in the Qin Family's case,
I will not quit so easily.
Please grant me another twenty days.
Your Majesty, please don't
If nothing is uncovered
after twenty days,
it will prove that there is no injustice
in the Qin Family's case
and that I have been unreasonable.
I shall willingly accept my punishment
of being expelled from the capital
and return to my fiefdom.
I'll never enter the capital again.
Your request is granted.
Your Highness.
[Beiyan Pagoda]
Guard our residence.
As soon as you hear something
from my husband,
come and let me know.
Yes, Your Highness.
[Beiyan Pagoda]
Rong has completely betrayed
the Shangguan Family.
As her mother, did you know this?
I don't know
what happened to this child.
Ever since her wedding day,
it's like she's become
a different person.
It seems Pei Wenxuan
has had a significant influence on her.
I guess
it's the only explanation.
You should go to Beiyan Pagoda
and tell her
not to wait for Pei Wenxuan.
♪Who gazes at the sky from afar?♪
♪Who gazes at the sky from afar?♪
♪In the night's chill breeze♪
♪What is she singing for?♪
♪The wind caresses the hills♪
♪The wind causes ripples on calm water♪
♪Moonlight graces passing souls♪
♪Her steps get slower and slower♪
♪She's trod a long path♪
♪Memories lost then found♪
♪Gazing idly as clouds roll by♪
♪She holds a red candle♪
♪To brave the thick fog♪
♪Life can be bitter sometimes♪
♪Experience it with grace♪
♪Like a fleeting dream♪
♪Like a fleeting dream♪
♪Neither warmth nor cold will last♪
♪Like a fleeting dream♪
♪Like a fleeting dream♪
♪The moon is reflected in her eyes♪
♪In her gaze,
the unwavering faith remains♪