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Episode 49
Greetings, Your Majesty.
I'm sorry that I'm late due to sickness.
Please forgive me.
Please rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You didn't have to come if you're sick.
I've done something wrong.
I am in fact physically incompetent,
so I have to ask Your Majesty to lead the army to go to battle.
I came to see you off.
Wishing you the best of luck and return in triumph.
Thank you for your thought.
Since you're sick, take care of yourself.
Take more rests.
I will eliminate the traitors
and return in triumph.
Please go home now.
Signal the army to leave.
Set off!
Farewell, Your Majesty.
This Han Xin is so cunning.
He's declined to come to the palace several times.
We have no chance to do it.
Don't we have other plans?
If I go again, he'll be wary of me.
Now it looks like...
Secretary Xiao is most suitable for this.
Xiao He is honest and reliable.
Han Xin will not be suspicious of him.
Besides, they've been on good terms all along.
Send him there,
he sure can bring Han Xin back.
Greetings, Your Highness.
Please rise.
Do you know the reason...
I summoned you here today?
No, I do not.
I heard that Lord Huaiyin has the intention to revolt.
I want you to bring him here.
What is wrong in there...
Is up to you to figure out,
Let me know when you've got it.
Secretary Xiao, the Empress's temperament...
Is well known to you.
You cannot go against her will.
But...
How am I going to face Lord Huaiyin?
Think about it...
It's not up to us about this,
it's the Emperor and Empress's decision.
What can we do about it?
Even if I take the Empress's order,
and ask Lord Huaiyin to come,
I can't be sure he'll come.
Secretary Xiao, this matter...
Cannot be delayed.
If you falter in doing this,
the Empress may become suspicious of you,
thinking you're involved in the revolt.
Besides, you've always been good friends with Lord Huaiyin.
Lord Huaiyin will not be suspicious of you.
Please, Secretary Xiao.
To have Secretary Xiao here today,
I am very grateful.
As you can see,
I've been very sick lately,
I haven't been feeling well.
But I'm hopeful...
To attend His Majesty's celebration.
But my body strength doesn't allow for that.
So I'll just leave it at that.
How can you be so muddle-headed?
There are rumors going around.
Judging by their attitudes,
His Majesty is already questioning your loyalty.
And said you show signs of staging a revolt.
A lot of people are watching this closely.
Now that we've dealt with the traitor Chen.
If you still don't attend the celebration,
it'll give them more evidence,
saying that you are Chen's accomplice.
By then...
You know His Majesty's temperament.
Well...
Honey, Secretary Xiao has been so good to you,
just go along with him.
If you can gain His Majesty's trust,
that'd be a good thing.
Alright, I'll go along with you
and go to Weiyang Palace with you.
Good.
After you, Lord Huaiyin.
Greetings, Your Highness.
So you're here, Lord Huaiyin.
Take this traitor to the jail.
What crimes did I commit?
Han Xin, you conspired with Chen to stage a revolt.
Do you plead guilty?
What evidence do you have?
We have hard evidence here.
What do you have to say?
You ungrateful man,
never have you thought about His Majesty's grace to you.
Take him out!
Put him on death row.
Yes, Your Highness.
Xiao He!
Secretary Xiao, I, Han Xin,
admired you the most in my life.
I admired you, I trusted you.
But I never thought,
that you would set me up with them.
Alright, I, Han Xin,
is going to repay you.
You are the cause of my success and failure.
Lord Huaiyin.
Secretary Xiao.
Lord Huaiyin.
You've become a statesman with great achievements now.
What made you come here?
If Lord Huaiyin wants to blame me,
I have nothing to say.
But...
I still want to get you out of here.
Save me?
Secretary Xiao, I know that...
This whole mess
is all the Empress's doing.
Even the Emperor cannot stop her.
You don't need to fuss over this.
I'll still try to do something about it.
Maybe the Empress will have mercy on you.
You can say I'm a...
Man of honor.
How can I ask for a woman's mercy?
Just leave.
Brother Xiao... it's the last time I can call your name.
If in the future...
No...
If fate wills it, I'll see you in the next life.
Brother Han!
Brother Xiao.
Yueji.
Now I understand your vision.
But I'm a fool.
I was blinded by fame and riches.
That's why I ended up like this.
Talk about admiring the view from the mountain top.
I can't even see the view from the foot of the mountain.
No wonder you take my son.
Yueji, I owe you one again.
I'll have to repay you in the next life.
I can only repay you in the next life.
I beg you, Your Majesty,
considering Han Xin's past contributions,
that you can spare his life.
Han Xin, do you plead guilty?
What would I be guilty of?
Beat him!
Han Xin, why do this?
Just confess to the Empress.
Han Xin, you're in big trouble.
I'll see how long you can last.
I'm a man of honor,
I never thought I'd end up like this.
I regret this greatly,
that I didn't listen to Kuai Che.
I'll have to suffer in your hands today.
This is your destiny.
You deserve this.
Execute corporal punishment.
Yes.
The humiliation of crawling under someone's crotch.
The mercy of the old woman.
Becoming a General.
The all-out battle.
Pretending to repair the bridge while escaping.
The King of Qi, the King of Chu.
Lord Huaiyin...
Yueji... You're here.
Son.
Lord Han!
What are you doing?
Lord Huaiyin conspired a revolt.
He's been executed.
All of you have to be executed.
Take them away!
Go!
My husband!
Go...
Why?
Why did my Generals fight the world with me,
and then turn against me one by one?
Why is this happening?
Who are you paying respect to?
A friend of mine.
This little boy...
He's my friend's son.
Now he's done with worldly things.
I'm taking him to bid his final farewell.
And then I can bring him up at ease.
Your Highness.
Congratulations on returning in triumph.
Now that the world is at peace,
do you want to call for a celebration?
There's no need to.
You're upset about Han Xin?
He's been around for so many years.
Don't think about it too much.
It's not because you're heartless,
it's because Han Xin is ungrateful.
You've been so good to him,
made him a great General,
he should repay you.
But he turned against you instead.
He is the cause of his own death.
Alright, stop talking about this.
My Empress, how old am I?
You're 61, Your Majesty.
Right, I'm 61.
We've been married for 20 years now.
Ever since I started this career,
I've been fighting all my life.
I fought hard to establish this kingdom,
came to the throne.
But time flies,
the little kid has become an old man.
I'm not sure...
How long I can enjoy being the Emperor?
Your Majesty.
What is it that you want to see me about?
The insurgent troops have been eliminated.
Everyone loves you,
you don't have to live the life of a warrior anymore.
Now you have to think about,
how to be an Emperor that rules a peaceful kingdom.
I was just thinking about this.
Let's hear about your opinions.
It's said that conquering is not easy but keeping it is even harder.
I suggest you read more classic history books.
And learn the meaning of life from there.
Figure out the secret to rule the world.
You think this trouble isn't big enough for me,
that you have to make it bigger?
I didn't mean that.
But what I said was meant to be good for you.
Good for me? I don't want to hear it.
I am so sorry.
But please let me finish.
Don't stir up a storm.
What's the use of studying?
I've been fighting all my life,
now you want me to read books?
What a silly idea.
I establish this kingdom by warring,
not by reading some books.
You're making fun of me aren't you?
If you *** me off, I'll pee in your hat.
If that's what pleases you I'm willing to let you do that.
But please think this through.
Everybody knows that you're very competent.
You can conquer the world on your horse,
but can you rule the world on your horse?
The King of Qin fought hard to establish his kingdom.
But lost it during peaceful times.
Please give this a thought, Your Majesty.
You're a bookworm...
But what you just said makes sense.
Alright then,
I order you to make the account of fall Qin state, rise of Han state,
and the rise and fall of various states
into written details for me.
I'll reward you when it's done.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The people are water, the state as a boat.
Water can float or sink a boat.
This is the way to rule.
You'll benefit when you can understand and utilize this rule well.
This is the fundamentals of governing a state.
Your Majesty, I'm not competent enough.
These words...
I'm afraid cannot meet your expectation.
They'll be a joke to the statesmen.
I've only been enlightened today,
I've really understood...
The philosophy illustrated in this book.
Looks like I really have to start studying.
I can't be an ignorant ruler.
You're wise, Your Majesty.
With a brilliant ruler such as Your Majesty on the throne,
it's a blessing to the people.
What you've given me
are profound knowledge and penetrating insights.
I've belittled the scholars in the past.
I hope that from now on, you gentlemen
will help me rule the state.
Creating a lasting legacy for the Han state.
We'll serve you as best we can.
To see you all sharing with me,
makes me very happy.
Lu, your writing this book is a great contribution.
I now make you responsible for all controversies.
I hope you will be able to help me on state policies.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I'll be totally devoted to it.
Please rise.
Your Majesty, the stableman from Liang state fled here and asked to see you.
He said he has something to report.
Let him in.
Yes, Your Majesty.
It's not good, Your Majesty.
What's the matter, do tell.
The King of Liang, Peng Yue colluded with Hu Zhe,
they're staging a revolt, please see to that.
How can this be?
Han Xin's execution should serve as a warning,
why are there still people who'd do such things?
This is like putting a sword to my neck.
They're trying to force me!
Your Majesty, you have to be quick.
You can't hesitate, Your Majesty.
Guards.
Yes.
Capture Peng Yue.
I have to speak to him myself.
Yes.
Peng Yue is captured.
He has confessed,
he has committed the crime of revolting.
According to our laws,
anyone who plots to revolt will be executed along with his three clans.
Please pass this order, Your Majesty.
Forget it.
Considering Peng Yue was a statesman with great achievements.
I'll spare his life.
These traitors
cannot be spared.
Stop it, it'll be done.
Pass my order.
Remove Peng Yue's titles, make him a commoner.
Exile him to Shu County.
Yes.
Please stop.
I'm the Empress's special envoy.
I came to see the King of Liang.
What did you say?
The Empress sent you?
You've suffered enough.
The Empress thought of the King of Liang,
how you'll be cold and hungry on your journey,
so she sent me to bring these food for you.
Please enjoy them.
I thank the Empress for that.
Please tell the Empress that I'm innocent.
Your Highness.
I've served the Emperorfor so many years,
I've been loyal all along,
I never had the intentions of revolting,
I must be set up.
Please understand this.
Please rise, King of Liang.
You've been wronged.
Please tell me the details.
You are so merciful.
I don't dare ask for my title back,
I only wanted the Emperor to have mercy on me.
And not exile me to the barren Shuzhong.
Where do you want to go then?
If the Emperor would send me back to my hometown Changyi,
I'd be very grateful.
I'll pray to the heavens for you and the Emperor.
I see.
Don't worry.
I'll go to the Emperor,
and say something nice for you.
Thank you, Your Highness.
How about this, you return with me now,
when we get to Changan,
I'll say something nice for you.
But you have to be patient.
I'll bring you good news.
I trust you'll arrange everything.
Your Majesty, Peng Yue's contribution is no less than Han Xin's,
you're brewing trouble if you exile him to Shuzhong,
he'll be a great worry.
Then what do you say we should do?
The state comes first, Your Majesty.
You cannot be merciful.
If you don't kill those who deserves to die they'll be future worries.
You can't let him get away with this.
Otherwise it would be like
when Xiang Yu exiled you to Shuzhong.
That makes sense.
But I've already banished Peng Yue from Changan.
No, Your Majesty.
I knew you have to eliminate him.
I've tricked him into returning to Changan.
Now it's up to you to execute him.
The state comes first, Your Majesty.
I'm really frustrated now.
If you know how to deal with him,
you take care of it.
I bow to you, Your Highness.
Thank you for running about for me.
Please rise.
Don't mind the formalities.
I'll be bold,
can I ask if the Emperor has granted my request yet?
Looks like you can't wait.
Alright.
Come in.
Do tell.
Yes, Your Highness.
The King of Liang betrayed the Emperor.
This is not done overnight.
He's been training his armies.
He's had the heart of betrayal for so long.
Your Highness, I have the corresponding letters between him and the insurgent troops.
Please have a look.
Nonsense! I don't even know you!
Your Highness, I don't know him!
The Empress is a smart lady,
please don't lie anymore.
The letter you asked me to send to the insurgent troops
came into the hands of the Empress long ago.
You...
We have both witness and evidence,
what more can you say?
Oh I see.
You set me up!
You're so inhuman.
You'll get your punishment sooner or later.
That'd be you.
You traitor.
Death? I'm not afraid of death.
I'll turn into a fierce ghost after I die,
I'll possess you,
disturb you day and night.
Take him out!
Shred him to pieces!
Yes, Your Highness.
You're so inhuman!
Lu Zhi...
Lu Zhi!
You'll be punished!
Your Majesty,
I've taken care of Peng Yue for you.
But I'm still worried.
Now that Peng Yue is dead, what can you be worried about?
Peng Yue is dead.
But those feudal lords who are plotting a revolt,
never stop coming.
How are you going to settle this?
Do you have any idea?
I have an idea.
Let's hear it out.
I think...
you have to be cruel in dealing with those traitors.
I'm ordered,
to mince Peng Yue's body,
and sent to various states
to scare those feudal lords.
Let them know this is the result of revolting.
Is there something wrong with that?
Wouldn't that be too cruel?
Desperate measures for desperate calls.
Please don't forget.
We've worked so hard to build the Han state.
Since the King of Liang, Peng Yue is dead,
the King of Jiujiang, Ying Bu was forced to revolt.
Liu *** went to battle himself.
Who knew he'd be hurt by an arrow
and had a relapse.
So he retreated.
Fei'er, where are we?
Pei County is up ahead.
We'll take a turn there.
Pei County...
What's wrong, father?
I'm returning to Pei County.
What? You're returning to Pei County?
I started from Pei County.
I've never been back ever since I've became the Emperor.
I have to go home.
Father, you're not well.
We should go back to Changan first.
When you've recovered,
we'll come back.
No, I have to go home.
And visit those people.
And my past flings.
If I don't see them,
I'll not be at peace.
I won't rest in peace.
Long live the Emperor.
Long live the Emperor.
We're in Pei County now.
Stop.
What are you doing, father?
I'm getting off.
You can't, father.
Long live the Emperor.
Please rise, the people of Pei County.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Do you recognize me, Your Majesty?
You're Sister Si.
Oh, I haven't seen you for so long.
What happened to you?
What happened to me? Look at you.
You're not a kid anymore.
Ah, alright.
Summon the Pei County governor,
I have hold a great celebration in Pei County.
Celebrate with the residents.
Long live the Emperor.