The Princess Royal (2024) s01e39 Episode Script

1
[The Princess Royal]
[Adapted from Mo Shu Bai's novel,
The Princess Royal on jjwxc.net]
[This is a work of fiction.]
[Episode 39]
Your Highness, did His Majesty
give this jade seal to you?
Why the sudden sigh of relief?
I am naturally happy for His Majesty.
If His Majesty has entrusted
this jade seal to you,
it means
His Majesty has let go of some concerns.
How so?
Actually
His Majesty has always cared for you.
Though he hasn't shown
his feelings that much,
it has always been there.
He's always cared for you as a father.
Your Highness,
this was just written by His Majesty.
He ordered me to give it to you.
[Princess Pingyue,
Li Rong, will be Regent Princess Royal.]
What does he mean by this?
He trusts me?
Your Highness.
If it were any other day,
His Majesty wouldn't
naturally trust you.
But perhaps His Majesty is willing
to trust the current you a bit.
Who
are you siding with?
Your Highness,
I am naturally loyal to His Majesty.
But if there are words that benefit you,
I will naturally tell you.
I want to be alone for a while.
Yes, Your Highness.
I shall take my leave.
It is quite high.
It is also a little cold.
[Changhe Gate]
They have concentrated their forces
in the inner palace.
It seems they intend
to start a battle in the inner palace.
Your Highness.
Mr. Su,
we shall be counting on you today.
Rest assured, Your Highness.
As long as the Xiao Family's troops are
at our disposal.
Mr. Su,
as long as you ensure
the throne belongs to Prince Su,
the Xiao Family's troops will
follow your orders.
[Taiji Hall]
Kneel.
Li Rong, what are you doing?
Are you mad?
Father is seriously ill.
The Crown Prince is still injured.
Therefore, I am appointed as Regent.
Fulai,
announce the imperial decree.
Yes, Your Highness.
"I have recently fallen ill,
with my limbs failing. The Crown Prince
is still recovering from injuries
he got during the Winter Festivity"
Charge!
"But the country cannot be
without a ruler for a day.
Princess Pingyue, Li Rong,
known for her virtue
and adeptness in court affairs,
is appointed as Regent Princess Royal
to oversee the state affairs
in my stead.
Treat her as you would treat me."
Respected officials,
the decree has been announced.
Please pay your respects.
Why are you standing there?
Go and take her down.
Your Highness, calm down.
You didn't kneel when hearing
the decree. Are you rebelling?
Last night there was a palace coup.
Without seeing His Majesty,
I dare not kneel.
Why not?
I'm afraid of kneeling to a traitor
and dishonoring His Majesty.
The Crown Prince, Li Chuan,
brazenly led troops to surround
the Imperial Palace last night,
deceiving you
and holding His Majesty hostage.
I have come to His Majesty's rescue.
Please do not interfere, Your Highness.
Someone,
Her Highness is startled.
Bring her to take some rest.
Insolence!
The Crown Prince never entered
the palace last night.
His Majesty is currently safe and sound.
You all are committing
the crime of treason
by forcibly attacking the city.
Withdraw and accept your punishment!
The Crown Prince was not
in the palace last night?
The Crown Prince went out of the city
to recuperate from injuries.
Therefore,
I was ordered to act as Regent.
Everyone, your whole families and clans
will be eliminated
if you plot against His Majesty.
We may not pursue this crime today.
But you will be punished one day.
Li Chuan is not in the palace now.
His Majesty is even still alive.
Could our attack
on the Imperial Palace be ridiculous?
The charge of killing the Emperor
is questionable
when power is at its peak.
If power diminishes one day
Mother.
it becomes the cause
of one's family's annihilation.
Everyone,
I wish to speak
with Princess Pingyue in private.
Could you make a room for us?
Since you have matters
to discuss with Princess Pingyue,
we won't disturb you.
Everyone,
let's wait outside.
Cheng.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, Su Rongqing is,
after all, a man.
What if he harbors ill intentions
towards you
Prepare a pot of tea. And you may leave.
Yes, Your Highness.
Rou, the Crown Prince didn't
make his move.
Now these noble families may have
a change of heart.
No, they won't.
Once troops enter the palace,
no one can escape.
Mr. Su is inside
to buy us time to act.
Your Highness.
It seems there has been
a misunderstanding.
Since His Majesty is unharmed,
the Crown Prince may not be rebelling.
So we just discussed
that everyone should
dismiss.
If there is indeed a misunderstanding,
we naturally should withdraw,
admit our error,
and ask for punishment from His Majesty.
But we haven't seen His Majesty.
We don't know
if what Pingyue said is true.
Now that we are in the palace,
why not let me go to Hanqiu Palace
to find out whether His Majesty is safe
or has met with misfortune.
What do you think, Mr. Gu?
Confirming His Majesty's safety
is indeed necessary.
We will assist you
in entering Hanqiu Palace.
Thank you.
Qian, guard the palace gate.
Prevent unauthorized entry and exit.
Yes, Your Highness.
Follow me.
Mother.
What do we do if Father is still alive?
He won't be alive.
Once we see him,
we'll fabricate that he has
already been killed by Li Chuan.
What are you trying to do?
The Gu Family is not involved.
We do not know anything.
We really don't know anything.
You'd better watch your manners
or else the Su Family's master
won't let you off.
Everyone, calm down.
As long as you cooperate,
we will not give you a hard time.
Let us go now.
Don't use any violence.
Close the door.
Let us go!
Young Master,
the Su and Gu Families' relatives are
all inside.
What about the Wang Family?
They haven't been breached.
Did anyone escape?
The Wang Family has closed their doors
and no one has come out.
What about the situation at the palace?
The palace gate has
already been breached.
Troops from the Su and Xiao Families
and several other noble families
have entered the Imperial Palace.
Su Rongqing,
along with Gu Zidao, Wang Dunmin,
and others,
have also entered.
It's said the morning court
has not been canceled.
How long did it take
to breach the palace gate?
Less than an hour.
They breached the Imperial City
in less than an hour?
It seems Li Rong didn't deploy defenses
outside the city
but withdrew all forces back
to the inner palace.
Given her temperament, such a move
only signifies one thing.
His Majesty isn't dead at all.
If so, the Princess withdrew
the troops back to the inner palace
to safeguard them.
She's waiting for the Crown Prince
to have a chance to coordinate with her
to launch a counterattack.
She is buying time for us.
Yes.
We can win this.
And we must win.
Mr. Pei, Xun Chuan's troops have arrived
and are going to attack the city.
Yuan Feiyu,
immediately take a thousand soldiers
to the city tower
and coordinate with Xun Chuan
to open the city gate.
You must act fast.
Also, inform Pei Xiao
that after taking the Wang Family's
relatives to the Princess's Mansion,
guard the Princess's Mansion.
Await my orders.
Yes.
Tong Ye,
release all sky lanterns in the mansion.
The Crown Prince will understand
my message.
Yes.
Also,
prepare incense and water
and get the carriage ready.
I'm going into the palace.
Young Master, you are
I'm going to fetch Her Highness.
Your Highness!
Shangguan Ya entrusted me
to come here to fetch you.
Her Majesty has been safely sent
to the camp by Shangguan Ya
and Lin Feibai,
with strong guards ensuring her safety.
You don't need to worry.
It has been a while. How are you?
With it here,
I'm fine.
I'll take this mask from you.
Rong has been completely exonerated
for the Qin Family.
You no longer need it.
She specifically instructed me
that Huajing is your home.
You should return openly
without needing to hide anymore.
Hongyu has finally returned
to Zhilan's side riding the wind.
Today is the time
for these two swords
to fulfill their mission.
Let's go and join Shangguan Ya
and the fellow soldiers
to attack the city together.
Prepare for battle.
Let's return home safely together.
It's been a long time
since I brewed tea for you.
It's a pity your favorite,
Yinjian tea, isn't available today.
It's a pity.
Did you intentionally separate us
from the others
just to catch up with me?
There are several questions
I naturally want to ask you.
Your Highness,
is it still comfortable up there?
What do you mean?
You know
that I only want to stop Li Chuan.
Since you are
the Regent Princess Royal now,
is it necessary for Li Chuan
to be the Crown Prince?
Your Highness,
I did not come for revenge.
Li Chuan can live.
But he cannot live
under his own identity.
As the Regent Princess Royal,
once Li Cheng ascends the throne,
you can convict Li Chuan
of plotting a rebellion
and ask him to live
under a different identity.
I remember the first time I met you.
It was in the Imperial Study.
You and Chancellor Su knelt together
at the door of the Imperial Study
to dissuade my father
from the Northern expedition.
You said
that members of the Su Family
devote all their lives
to the people and the state.
Then, let me ask you,
are the nobble families today
a good thing or a bad thing
for the people?
The Northern expedition
back then was indeed an impulsive move.
But back then, if it wasn't
for the exploitation and corruption
by the noble families,
the military provisions and funds would
have been enough for the expedition.
The southern floods were indeed caused
by the Northern expedition,
which depleted the national treasury.
But if it wasn't for the prosperity
of the noble families
and their exemption from taxes,
allowing local officials backed up
by the noble families
to evade taxes,
the treasury wouldn't
have been so empty.
You said that as an emperor,
Li Chuan shouldn't
exclusively favor one woman.
But Su Rongqing,
if you truly love someone,
wouldn't you feel hurt
being with someone else?
But he is a ruler.
All pain must be endured.
Even so, it must be meaningful.
If his endurance
pleases the noble families
rather than the people,
what's the point?
You've always blamed everything
on Li Chuan.
But today's situation isn't solely
one person's fault.
According to you,
is it all the fault
of the noble families?
But are there no corrupt
and greedy people
among the commoners?
Are there no factional struggles
among them?
This is human nature.
What does it have to do
with the noble families?
You all say
that the noble families are at fault.
During years of disasters,
the Su Family provided relief.
The Su Family's descendants fought
on the battlefield during times of war.
What did the Su Family do wrong?
You said that in the harem struggles,
Li Chuan was not at fault.
Does that mean Shangguan Ya is wrong?
Does that mean
my elder brother is wrong?
Their entire lives had been ruined
in this palace.
Li Chuan treated them like this
just for his own selfish desires.
Why can Li Chuan act willfully
while they have to live in despair
for a lifetime?
Just because they are not the Emperor?
Your Highness.
If the noble families are at fault,
does the imperial family have no guilt?
But who exactly brought them
into the palace?
Actually, you just don't want
to admit it.
We were born sinful.
How can there be such a thing
as being born sinful?
Good or evil,
crime or punishment,
it depends on what one person does.
The Su Family, a prestigious family
for a hundred years
What is your so-called
prestigious family
based on?
People in the world love fox fur coats.
But foxes wouldn't appreciate it.
They only give a little food to the fox
and claim they're doing it a favor.
That's a lie.
Let's not deceive ourselves
or others anymore.
I understand your stubbornness.
Your heart is with the light,
yet you dwell in darkness.
You refuse to acknowledge your identity,
so you can only distort the truth.
Rongqing.
I also went through so much
to finally understand
that my whole life should be dedicated
to my righteousness.
May you find your original intentions
and forever be your own person.
♪Only if today were like the past
with a serene sunset♪
Your Highness.
♪Spring flowers fall like snow♪
There's no turning back.
♪Who will notice the longing?♪
I have lost everything.
♪Love and hate are intertwined♪
♪Life and death are like mirages♪
I cannot turn back.
♪I look into your eyes when thinking
of where I belong in this life♪
♪Few lifetimes
of encounters and reunions♪
♪Will your love be rekindled
when you turn around?♪
♪Will we have a chance
if I let go of all my fears?♪
Speak no more, then.
♪You are the final sanctuary of my soul♪
Let me make tea
for you since it's our last time
drinking tea together.
♪In the rush of the wild wind♪
♪Even if it's rare in the world♪
♪My affection for you
is yet to be expressed♪
♪I hold love, letting fate♪
♪Push me once again♪
♪Toward a dream with you in it♪
♪I fear I might let you down♪
♪I hold love♪
♪So what even if I miss it again?♪
♪For the deepest yearning♪
Thank you, Your Highness.
♪I endure the pain
when brushing past you♪
♪I hold love with an oath♪
♪That's the only way
to live my life without you♪
♪In this world,
I can't help but long for you♪
♪Yet I can only admire you
from a distance♪
Tian Sheng!
Capture them! Capture them!
Stop them!
Sir,
we found the Princess.
Guard here. I will go and catch Li Rong.
Wait, what's going on?
Protect the Princess!
Young Master, bad news!
The Crown Prince is leading an attack
on the city.
Your Highness.
Mr. Su.
Li Chuan's men have
already started attacking the city
before we manage
to take over the palace.
What should we do now?
Someone! Tie Li Rong up
and hang her up at the city gate.
- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.
Stop!
Mr. Wang.
She is Princess Pingyue.
Su Rongqing,
at a time like this,
do you still want to engage
in these romantic pursuits?
Do not forget.
It was you who urged us
to collaborate with Consort Rou.
If we fail this time,
both our families and clans
will be executed.
Do not lose your senses.
Mr. Wang, there is no need to be angry.
I will go with you.
Your Highness.
The enemy soldiers are nearly occupying
the Imperial City.
Consort Rou has led
the Xiao Family's troops
to the inner palace.
We are outnumbered.
So we are not their match.
So long as we are still alive,
we've still got a chance to win.
Your Highness, we are willing to die
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness,
do not go outside.
Li Chuan won't give up
on attacking the city now.
He doesn't have many troops.
He can't spare anyone to rescue you.
If you become their hostage,
you will definitely die.
Thank you.
But
I do not want to owe you.
Your Highness.
Please report this.
Pei Wenxuan requests an audience
with Her Highness, Princess Pingyue.
If not allowed,
if I may ask Mr. Su, Mr. Gu,
and Mr. Wang,
do you miss your family?
Pei Wenxuan!
How dare you!
Sir, Madam is
Sir, the young master and others are
Archers, prepare!
- Calm down!
- Calm down!
Lower your bows!
Lower your bows now!
Don't do anything rash!
Calm down!
[Hanqiu Palace]
Attack! Charge!
Charge!
Mother, what do we do now?
Pei Wenxuan,
what did you do to my family?
♪May time itself ask me♪
♪How many glances does it take
in a lifetime♪
♪To be blessed
with your highs and your lows?♪
♪I've cherished every second of my life♪
♪Embracing your joys and sorrows♪
Greetings, Your Highness.
♪Allowing the flower of love to bloom♪
Why did you come back?
♪I thought capturing your heart
meant forever♪
♪Yet, it turned out to be
as fleeting as autumn♪
♪Without you♪
♪Even the hustle and bustle
can still feel lonely♪
Either I die with you
or I take you home.
♪I'd follow you with no hesitation♪
♪Ready to surrender everything
to this sensation♪
♪Even if past moments
vanish without a trace♪
♪Grant me a ceaseless passion♪
What did you do to my wife?
♪Let me face trials and tribulations
with you♪
♪Let us bathe in love's endless grace♪
You cunning scoundrel!
Are you here to boast
and buy time?
♪How many glances does it take
in a lifetime♪
Leave it to me.
♪To be blessed
with your highs and your lows?♪
Everyone,
I'm not here today
to be your enemy.
Instead, I'm here to help you out.
Help us out?
What do you mean?
Right now, all your heads are already
on the chopping block.
Today I come to offer you all
a solution.
So you may die
with your bodies intact.
Pei Wenxuan, stop spouting nonsense.
You are all traitors
who put our country in danger.
You are guilty toward the ruler
and the people.
The Crown Prince has already
led the troops into the city.
If you surrender now,
there's still a chance for survival.
Or else even if all of your families
and clans are exterminated,
it is not enough to pay for the price.
Pei Wenxuan, don't waste your efforts.
Surrender now.
Su Rongqing.
You're truly stubborn.
When there's a way out,
you refuse to take it
and insist on a path to death.
Everyone,
speak frankly.
The reason the Crown Prince
left the palace earlier today
and I have held
your families hostages
is because someone leaked your plans
to me beforehand.
Who?
Su Ronghua,
the young master of the Su Family.
Pei Wenxuan.
You're lying.
Am I lying?
The Su Family is a noble clan.
For a hundred years,
they've never meddled in royal disputes.
Would he participate in such things?
Everyone,
do you really believe
Su Rongqing can represent
the Su Family?
He absolutely cannot.
You're struggling in desperation
and speaking nonsense.
Mr. Su.
Pei Wenxuan, continue.
Su Rongqing poisoned Mr. Su
and obtained the patriarch token.
Su Ronghua hurried
to Tianshou Pass overnight
and persuaded the Su Family's general
to assist the Crown Prince in clearing
out the rebels to show loyalty.
Today's rebellion
is only Su Rongqing's intention alone.
Everyone,
do you really want
to risk the entire clan's lives
to listen to him?
Why don't you listen
to me?
Surrendering now is still possible.
How do we surrender?
Withdraw from the palace?
If by simply withdrawing
from the palace can avoid punishment,
won't everyone in the world follow suit?
So, what are you suggesting?
Consort Rou previously issued an edict,
which was also His Majesty's wish.
I think,
why don't you follow
His Majesty's wishes
to pay taxes and tribute
and completely abolish
the system of Royal Selection,
relying only on the imperial examination
to select officials?
This would also give
His Majesty a way out,
not punishing all of you.
Wouldn't everyone be happy, then?
Mr. Su, earlier you said
Consort Rou was deceived
by the Crown Prince
and Pei Wenxuan's plot.
I have always harbored doubts.
Now it seems
you have a sharp and cunning foresight,
with deep and far-reaching plans.
Pei Wenxuan,
you are indeed eloquent.
Mr. Su,
what exactly is
the Su Family's stance?
Shouldn't you clarify?
My brother did not flee overnight
as Pei Wenxuan claimed.
On the contrary,
he is currently on his way
with troops to support us.
What is the Su Family's stance?
Have you all not known this
after so many years?
Instead of listening
to his one-sided words here,
why not go out of the city gates
to see what's going on?
I will stay here
and meet everyone
after obtaining the posthumous decree.
By then,
I will surely give you all
a satisfactory explanation.
That would be ideal.
Let's go.
Someone!
Take Pei Wenxuan down!
- Yes, sir!
- Yes, sir!
I dare you!
Believe it when I say this.
If Her Highness and I perish here,
I'll have you all buried
with us.
You won't ignite the fireworks
in your hands.
Is that so?
Because you're not that kind of person.
Well, you've misjudged me.
For Her Highness,
I can do anything.
You have family.
So do I.
All right.
Please keep your word, then.
Attack!
Protect Her Highness!
Pei Wenxuan.
Pei Wenxuan, let me out!
Pei Wenxuan!
Su Rongqing!
Su Rongqing, stop this madness!
Su Rongqing,
the Su Family troops won't come.
Stop now.
I can spare your life.
Your Highness.
Please remember what I said.
As long as Li Chuan doesn't
ascend the throne,
the posthumous decree
will never be presented.
If Li Chuan does ascend the throne,
he will surely reform.
Your Highness, stay still
and avoid getting hurt
from this conflict.
When I speak of reform,
it is for the stability of the nation
to prevent unrest.
But if you support
Prince Su's ascension,
the chaos in the Great Xia
will never cease.
Your Highness, you must not reform.
Your Highness,
as long as you reform,
there will be thousands of people
like me in this world.
Su Rongqing.
Do you know what you're doing?
You are the root of chaos
in the Great Xia.
You are the evilest one in this world.
You can still turn back.
You just
You just can't face it.
The past is the past
and a new life is a new life.
Why do you keep dwelling on the past?
Su Rongqing.
This is a new world now.
I am the new Li Rong.
Why can't you be
the new Su Rongqing?
Su Rongqing.
Pei Wenxuan!
Pei Wenxuan will be fine.
He will live well.
He will definitely live well.
Everyone,
what are you doing?
General Xiao,
we only need
to get the posthumous decree now.
We would like to return home first
to check on our families.
After Mr. Su gets the posthumous decree,
we'll meet again.
I think you are abandoning my sister
and running off yourself.
What are you saying?
If you're sincere,
then you should live and die
together with us.
You mean to say
that you plan to imprison us
in the palace
and tie us together with Consort Rou?
Yes!
If you want to leave today,
there are only two ways.
Leave with the Xiao Family alive
or be carried out from here as corpses.
You should know what is good for you.
I don't believe he dares kill anyone.
Charge!
I dare!
Report!
Ms. Shangguan,
a large number of troops are coming.
Could it be reinforcements
from the Wang Family?
Shouldn't we withdraw first?
No,
those who retreat will be executed.
Prepare to fight.
Yes!
Don't worry.
I've already explained it to my cousin.
I'll lead the troops to reinforce first.
He'll inform the family
to let Qin Lin through.
[Taiji Hall]
Your Highness.
Where is Rong?
Please rest assured.
Her Highness is all right.
I will go and check on her.
Guard here.
Yes, sir.
Attack!
♪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 lengthy 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♪