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[General And I]
[Episode 28]
Get up quickly.
It's cold on the ground.
The health of your child matters more.
Who are you to care about me?
I always thought that we should find a chance to have a good talk.
The winner takes all.
You must be very smug now.
Why bother shedding crocodile tears?
I'm the person who has always wanted you dead.
Now that you've won, if I were you
I would add insult to injury when I have the chance.
That's perhaps what makes us different.
I've never wanted you dead.
I've never thought of adding insult to injury either.
I know that you killed the princes and the queen
to frame me for it.
You also framed Prince of Zhenbei many times to kill him.
By right, you're so ruthless that
one word shouldn't come to my mind when I think of you.
Pitiful.
You...
Noble Consort Zhang.
Your looks are still at the prime of your youth
but your soul has long aged past your declining years
and is riddled with gaping wounds.
Are you not sick and tired?
Who are you to pity me?
What do you think you are?
A maid of a fallen prince's manor.
Do you think that no one would know
of the despicable past between you and your master?
Even if you held my shoes, I would find your hands filthy!
Stop pretending to be so virtuous.
If you want me dead, just kill me to your heart's content!
Noble Consort.
Get lost!
I'm here to convey a message from His Majesty.
Amnesty is bestowed to all
as blessings for the new queen's coronation.
You can also be spared.
What do you mean?
I didn't mention you to His Majesty, and he didn't ask about you either.
Your Highness, you have served by His Majesty's side for so many years.
You should know why His Majesty didn't ask about you.
Weren't you also certain that His Majesty wouldn't kill you?
That was why you came here to ask for forgiveness, wasn't it?
Head back and nourish your child.
The child is innocent.
Stop trying to stir up trouble.
His Majesty told me that he could let bygones be bygones.
But I think that between both of us, those four words aren't enough.
We need four more words.
Never shall we meet.
Farewell.
Does it hurt?
It doesn't.
Zui Ju.
I said that my head hurts, but why did you prick my leg?
Your Majesty.
Treat the head for headache or the foot when the foot hurts.
Those are all tricks of swindlers selling quack medications.
The head is the most important body part.
The blood of all five viscera and the energy in all six bowels
can all be gathered in the head.
What I did is to cleanse the blood of all five viscera
and the poison in all six bowels.
Your Majesty.
Next, you have to take the medication I've prescribed you regularly.
Once Your Majesty gets well, your head won't hurt anymore.
Woman... you're skilled in medical practice
but you also have quite the gift of gab.
Why don't you stay in the palace?
I can appoint you as the youngest Imperial Physician Scholar.
- How about that? - Your Majesty.
Are you trying to put an end to my future?
I don't want to spend all my time with those old men in the academy!
If you do so, how could I ever get married?
No thank you.
Let me ask you then.
Do you have someone on your mind now?
Tell me now and I will bestow marriage to you right away.
Now?
I don't have anyone in mind now.
But I want a husband like Brother Bei Jie who is also a hero.
But he is to be more humorous, more romantic, and more cheerful.
He has to worry less.
He's so perfect, just thinking about it.
Only such a man is a great match for me.
Is it not ideal?
This woman is seriously...
Seriously what?
Seriously ambitious!
Ambitious indeed.
In fact, your Brother Bei Jie might not be that unromantic.
Come here.
I'll tell you a secret.
Really?
Your Majesty.
Prince and Princess Consort of Zhenbei seek audience.
- Summon them in. - Yes.
Your Majesty, I will take my leave.
Miss Zui Ju.
You have to keep the secret that I just told you.
You mustn't tell anyone.
I know.
My lips are the tightest in the world!
No one can get a word out of me.
Good.
- Greetings to Your Majesty. - Ping Ting greets Your Majesty.
Don't stand on ceremony.
Your Majesty, are you feeling better?
I'm much better now that Miss Zui Ju has been looking after me.
My head doesn't hurt anymore.
This woman is such a barrel of laughs.
She's very interesting.
You found me the right doctor.
It's fortunate that Your Majesty doesn't find her annoying.
She's not annoying at all. I enjoy her company.
Both of you have come to visit. Has something happened again?
Your Majesty, it's all well.
It's now a peaceful era.
We are here to bid you farewell.
Bid me farewell?
It is now stable both in the palace and out in the nation.
Your Majesty now has a thoughtful spouse as well.
It's time for us to bid Your Majesty farewell.
We intend to set out on our journey tomorrow.
What are your plans after you leave?
I plan to spend quality time with Ping Ting.
I will go wherever she wishes to go.
I'm content to do so for the rest of my life.
Since you have already decided, I won't hold you back anymore.
I know that since I've given you my word, I can no longer take it back.
Since you're willing to spend your life in the mountains
you will have my blessings.
It's just that...
Wherever you might be, don't forget that you still have a king.
Be sure to visit me often.
This is your home.
I have been raised in Great Jin.
I surely wouldn't forget the gratitude I owe it.
And even more so, Your Majesty.
Good.
Yan State and Jin State established an alliance and friendship.
Great Jin stood by it with sincerity and kept our promise.
As a strong state, Yan State disregarded
our alliance and the friendship between both kings.
Hong is heartbroken and deeply disappointed.
The five-year peace treaty shall be abolished from today.
100,000 more soldiers shall be stationed at the border of Yan and Jin.
King of Yan, do keep an eye out for yourself.
Should you try to invade us
Great Jin will dismiss all past friendship to strike hard in return.
By the king himself.
Long live the king!
Young Master, I got it.
Young Master, the dust here is thicker.
The fallen leaves and vines weren't tidied up.
It doesn't seem like anyone has visited often.
Let's go in to take a look.
Young Master, the keyhole is all rusted.
The lock hasn't even been unlocked that many times.
If they were to go to war with such weapons
wouldn't our soldiers all be killed?
There are way more secrets to the Gui family that we found out.
We must investigate thoroughly.
Once we have the evidence, Gui Chang Qing can only die.
We welcome Your Highness.
Long live the princess!
My two dear subjects, do rise.
I've kept you waiting.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
It's been a long journey.
I have already cleaned this place thoroughly
to await the arrival of Your Highness.
Your Highness, this way, please.
Your Highness, please.
Princess.
I've already heard about what happened.
We had to open up our passes and trade route all because
of the mistakes that He Xia made.
However, Your Highness had to come all this way for him
to apologize in such a lowly manner.
If it were me, I would never have agreed to any conditions.
Your Highness, don't panic.
Since Your Highness is here, stay in Huarong for a few days with ease.
Relax for a bit.
Please treat this as your own home.
Which land doesn't belong to a ruler?
Huarong might be far away, but it's still within Ban La State.
This certainly is also my home.
Yes, Your Highness is absolutely right.
This is Your Highness's home.
What the young general means is that Huarong is far away
and it's rare that Your Highness visits.
We will surely see to the comfort of Your Highness.
Exactly! We'll see to it!
Your Highness.
I heard that it's chaotic in Jin State now.
We shouldn't be caught in such a mess.
Chu Bei Jie is already dead.
We can't just give up our passes to them for nothing.
- Instead of doing so... - Report!
Then...
Your Highness.
I've noticed that you seem very tired.
I'm afraid that it must have been a long and tedious journey.
I will have my servants escort Your Highness to your room.
I still have matters to attend to.
Please allow me to take my leave first.
General Gui need not stand on such ceremony.
Go ahead and get back to work.
- Yes. - I will also take my leave.
What happened?
This is so scary!
Who did this?
This is too mean.
Could it be revenge?
What wrong has he done?
Who did it?
Exactly.
General Gui, look at this.
Drive these people away quickly!
Yes! Guards?
Drive these people away quickly!
- Yes! - Go away!
- Go away! Hurry up! - Leave!
What is there to see?
- Get going! - Leave!
Who did it? Who could have done it?
Where is the gold?
Where has his gold gone?
This is bad...
Young general, don't panic.
If the gold is missing, we can look for it.
I will sent my men to look for it.
By then, you can have as much gold as you wish.
Who wants you to find it?
Who told you to find it?
Weren't you just asking about the gold?
Listen up!
Seal off this news right away!
My father must not hear of it!
I understand.
Princess.
Leave it to me.
I'm quite tired.
You are all dismissed now.
Yes.
Lu Yi, you are also dismissed.
Yes, Your Highness.
Call out for me if you need anything.
Step out here now!
- Princess. - Prince Consort.
Do you miss me?
What is it?
You're even blushing?
Prince Consort is always teasing me.
All right, I'll stop teasing you.
Let's sit down to talk.
Here.
Let me take a good look at you.
All right now. It's still daytime.
What about it?
Who said that a couple isn't allowed to be intimate in the day?
When did Prince Consort get so frivolous?
It's still early in the day.
There are people outside.
What if they see us?
Moreover, I do have a serious matter to discuss with Prince Consort.
A serious matter?
What is it?
You've been away investigating the murder on the river
so you probably don't know about the news from Jin State.
Tell me.
Chu Bei Jie isn't dead.
I was right after all.
It's been quite a show in Great Jin these days.
Chancellor Zhang conspired with King of Yan and imprisoned Sima Hong
to frame Chu Bei Jie for mutiny.
However, who knew that not only is Chu Bei Jie alive
but he also rescued Sima Hong and defeated the army of Yan State?
Chancellor Zhang is now dead.
The situation in Great Jin's palace is now stabilized.
I wonder what Prince Consort thinks about this matter.
The competition between two strong opponents
is decided in a split moment.
It's expected that Chu Bei Jie would win.
It's also reasonable that he could settle the unrest in Jin State.
Princess.
It's not much loss for us that Chancellor Zhang is dead.
We'll take Chu Bei Jie head on sooner or later.
I do have more news that is far more shocking than this.
What is it?
Your Highness. Here, have a seat.
When I learned that Your Highness set out to visit Jin State
I rushed all the way here immediately to investigate this private manor.
There's a scandal in this place.
Scandal?
What scandal?
The current Prime Minister Gui Chang Qing has a deal with King of Yan.
He embezzles a huge amount of military funds to offer to King of Yan
in exchange for his protection.
Your Highness.
No one knows King of Yan better than I do.
Murong Su has broken his promises numerous times.
Yan State is no longer trustworthy.
You must not trust them or befriend them.
If Bai Lan State is to defend itself, we have to fortify our army.
But Gui Chang Qing has thwarted that proposition.
I already have the evidence to prove the Gui family embezzled military funds
to maintain illicit ties with a foreign state.
I hope that Your Highness will get to the bottom of it.
I know very well that Prince Consort is telling the truth.
Does Prince Consort know that
Bai Lan State was once the most powerful empire in the Central Plains?
However, after decades of war
our people are destitute and our treasury is empty.
Before my father passed away, he once said to me to avoid all wars.
He even promoted Huang-Lao thought-based politics
as the solution to restoring Bai Lan State to glory.
I was also then sent to Great Liang as a hostage for 10 years.
Bai Lan State could survive until now as the weakest state in the world
because we have resigned ourselves to displaying our weakness
and complying with other states at all times.
As for what Prince Consort just said about Prime Minister pocketing the funds
it is just as I had expected.
Crystal clear water feeds no fish.
An overly perceptive man keeps no friends.
Gui Chang Qing has served the imperial court for years.
He's been held in high regard. His position is deeply rooted.
Our current power of authority isn't enough to have an impact on him.
Are we to do nothing as Gui Chang Qing is unassailable?
There is a way.
As Prince Consort said, the world is now in chaos.
Bai Lan State can only fend off foreign invasion if we grow stronger.
It will prevent our states from eyeing us.
As for domestically
we might not be able to uproot the big tree
but we can start from the little tree.
The little tree?
Prime Minister Gui's weakness.
He's already had his neck nicely cleaned and stretched out to us.
Wait here!
I'll take a look inside for you.
What is it? What else could there be inside?
Chu Bei Jie, Bai Ping Ting. Receive the imperial decree.
Long live the king!
By the mandate of Heaven and the decree of the king
Prince of Zhenbei Chu Bei Jie is a man of fervid loyalty
and decorated military merits.
However, he favors life in the countryside
and no fame or fortune can be rewarded to him.
Yet he is all alone.
I sympathize with his loneliness.
Now there is a fair lady named Ping Ting, née Bai
who is gentle, fair, and intelligent.
She shares a mutual affection with Prince of Zhenbei.
She stayed with him through life and death.
She is a great match for Prince of Zhenbei.
Hence, I hereby bestow marriage upon both of them.
May they love and respect each other.
May they grow old together.
By the king himself.
You were prepared for this?
I've prepared for this day for the past twenty years.
Your subject receives the decree!
- Quickly! - Come!
Come on in!
We're home!
They are married!
Let's go in together!
Here, we're home!
We're home. Come here.
We're here!
Congratulations.
This is our Weipin Hall's dowry custom made for Miss Bai.
We hope that Miss Bai will like it.
Put everything down!
I thank Shopkeeper Xiao Wei for delivering the items personally.
The timing is just right.
Of course.
The wedding of the princess consort is the most important event in the city.
How could we handle it carelessly?
We have here the pearls of Southern Sea
perfumed powder from Western Regions
and silk of mulberry silkworms from Qin State.
Xiao Wei went to great lengths in search of all these precious things.
These are all new items that arrived this morning.
All of them are exquisite.
Many nobility and officials were after these items.
I hope that Miss Bai will like them.
- This is... - I owe you a wedding.
I've always felt bad about it.
We were both orphaned at a young age
so I asked His Majesty and the queen to bestow marriage to us.
All right now.
You can talk as much as you want after the bride is all dolled up.
You're really mushy. Let's go, Sister Bai!
We should get you dressed.
Let's go!
Why aren't you taking off the veil yet?
I'm waiting for you to speak.
For me to speak?
What am I supposed to say?
The words that I wish to hear.
Say that you will have me protect you for life.
Bei Jie.
Ever since I first met you when we were children
I was almost certain that you'd become my wife.
We went through so much and now we're finally together.
I will always remember this moment.
Let me take a good look at you.
Your Highness.
Is Your Highness in?
General Gui.
Greetings to Your Highness.
Don't stand on ceremony, General Gui.
Do rise.
General Gui, please come in.
Thank you, Your Highness.
General, please come in.
Why is there wine in the room?
General Gui, I'm embarrassed.
I couldn't fall asleep late at night
so I thought I'd have some wine to stop myself from thinking too much.
It might make me sleep better.
Doesn't General Gui ever have such an experience?
I do have times when I can't sleep.
It's just that drinking is unhealthy.
Your Highness shouldn't harm your health
for some people and matters that aren't worthy.
If only everyone could be as thoughtful as General Gui
and understand a lady so well.
That would be wonderful.
Do take a seat, General Gui.
Yes, Your Highness.
General Gui, how about a drink?
Since Your Highness asks me so sincerely, I will comply most gratefully.
General Gui, please.
Your Highness, here's a toast to you.
General Gui, here.
Your Highness.
We actually have known each other since we were children.
I wonder if you still remember it.
When my father took me to the palace
the deceased king called us childhood sweethearts then.
Is that so?
Why don't I remember that?
However, if Father was still alive now
Bai Lan State wouldn't be in this predicament.
General Gui.
Here.
General Gui.
- Your Highness. - General Gui.
What are you doing?
Princess.
I've been very fond of Your Highness for a long time.
I just never had the chance to profess my feelings.
Now that Your Highness has confided in me about your feelings...
I...
I will never let you down.
Your Highness.
I'm truly in love with you.
He Xia, what are you doing?
You're asking me?
I believe you know what you did last night.
Please appease your anger, Prince Consort!
Please spare my life!
You want me to spare you?
Sure.
The first option would be to handle this privately.
You can castrate yourself.
Please spare me, Princess!
Prince Consort, please don't be angry!
I must have been out of my mind to speak so to Her Highness.
It was just a moment's folly.
I beg Prince Consort and Princess not to hold it against me!
You won't choose the first option?
Fine. I'll notify Prime Minister about this
as well as the 100,000 gold taels you lost.
No! You mustn't, Prince Consort.
My father would kill me if he learns of it!
So we can't settle this privately or officially.
What would you like me to do then?
Here, I'll help you.
I'll make it easy for you.
Will that work?
No, Prince Consort!
You can make me do anything for you!
Please just spare my life!
Dong Zhuo.
Do you know all of them?
They all work for my father.
I can recognize them.
I want to know every detail and secret about them.
You...
You won't tell me?
I will! I will tell you everything!
Please spare my life!
Dong Zhuo!
Take down his statement.
Yes, Young Master.
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