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[General And I]
[Episode 38]
Ping Ting.
I just want you to answer me honestly.
I, He Xia, want your heart.
The heart that beat for me.
The heart that would die for me.
Now, I just want to spend the rest of my life with that heart of yours.
If you need more time, I can wait for you.
A year or even 10, 20 or even 50 years.
I thank Prince Consort for such affection.
But I am not a fool.
You used me as an excuse to ignore the princess and officials
because you want them to know
who the most important person in Bai Lan State is now.
Prince Consort has framed me.
It really is difficult for me to tell if your affection is real
or that you're just using me to realize your ambition of ruling Bai Lan State.
I mean every word I said.
Prince Consort, thank you for taking me riding.
I'm tired.
I'd like to head back now.
Ping Ting.
If you turn around now
I could give you the happiness you wish for.
Prince Consort has forgotten that I'm a married woman.
Apart from my husband, I wouldn't be happy with anyone else.
I'm leaving tomorrow.
Take care.
Prince Consort.
Keep a close eye on her.
She might escape anytime.
Yes!
Speed up.
Load Prince Consort's armor and weapons onto the carriage.
The war will soon be upon us.
Nothing must go wrong.
- Yes. - Yes.
- Young Master. - How are the preparations?
Everything is ready.
You can set out to war anytime.
Dong Zhuo, I'll leave Ping Ting to you.
You must take good care of her.
In addition, inform all personnel in the manor
not to reveal a word about this battle.
Anyone who lets slip a word will be punished according to military law.
Yes!
Be careful!
- Yes. - Hurry up!
- Yes! - Quickly!
Here.
- All right. - Over here.
Be careful.
Hurry up!
Wait!
What is it, Miss?
Why is everyone rushing in and out so early in the morning?
It's said that our Prince Consort is getting
his gear and troops ready to go to war!
Go to war?
Yes, he's going to war.
Our Prince Consort is a renowned hero.
He has a million soldiers, so he'll surely win.
Prince Consort is remarkable.
Is he not?
Miss Zui Ju, you just came to the manor, but you'll understand after some time.
This is a huge event.
Look at me. I chatted so much with you
that I'd forgotten what I was supposed to do.
I'll let you get back to work. We can chat when you have the time.
- Take care, Miss. - Sure.
I'll ask you more about this later.
Sure.
Ping Ting, I've brought you the gold thread that you asked for.
Thank you.
You're welcome. Why are you still so polite to me?
By the way, I've just heard some news.
Prince Consort is going away to war.
Since He Xia is going to war, he's leaving the manor soon.
Once he leaves the manor, don't we get a chance to escape?
I knew you'd say so.
Do we? Do we?
When should we escape?
How should we escape?
War...
Whom is he fighting against?
Me and my brain...
I forgot to ask about that.
But why does it matter whom He Xia is fighting against?
As long as he leaves the manor, we'll get a chance to escape.
That's true.
I'm the one who's muddleheaded.
Times have changed.
Why would it matter to me whom he fights against?
Ping Ting...
Now that Young Master is going away to war
it's a great opportunity for us.
But we can't leave yet.
Why not?
Young Master is a meticulous man.
There isn't much that he hasn't planned and plotted ahead of time.
He knows that we're in the manor, so he must be worried.
Even when he's here, there are already so many guards.
After he leaves, there will only be more guards stationed here.
It will be even more difficult for us to escape then.
This won't do and that won't either.
Are we never going to escape from Prince Consort's Manor?
You're so impatient.
I'm not done talking yet.
When did I say that we won't be able to escape at all?
He Xia might have left, but the princess is still in Yun-An City.
We might be trapped in the manor
but it doesn't mean that Her Highness can't visit us.
The outcome of this game.
depends on how Princess Yao Tian intends to surprise us.
Ping Ting, you mean...
Be careful.
Quickly.
- Hold on to it tightly! - Good.
Zui Ju, find me a map of Bai Lan State.
Bai Lan State?
Sure!
It's a beautiful day.
Who knew that there's such a place here in the harem of Bai Lan State?
Prime Minister.
You couldn't have come over here to admire flowers with me.
I do have some words to say.
Please forgive me, Your Highness.
Including Your Highness
I've already counseled three reigns of rulers in Bai Lan State.
I'd like to offer some advice to Your Highness.
You'd like me to release Bai Ping Ting?
Your Highness is indeed clever.
Then... There's no more to say.
Prime Minister.
Have you not given up yet?
You might be a veteran official of three reigns
but Prince Consort is the only warrior who could take on Chu Bei Jie.
Do you not find Prince Consort's reasons justified?
Isn't it too good a deal for us
if we could simply exchange Bai Ping Ting for peace?
Is it not too easy?
How long do you think we could hold on to such peace?
I would like to know since the former king passed away
which other kings have not set their eyes on Bai Lan State?
If we were to lose the valiant Prince Consort because of Bai Ping Ting
wouldn't that leave Bai Lan State at the mercy of others?
Now that the world is dominated by four states
we either fight back or will just end up butchered.
How do we attain peace by not going to war?
- But Your Highness-- - No buts.
What we can do now is to hold on to Prince Consort first
and then think of other ways to make Bai Ping Ting leave.
I think that be it by Chu Bei Jie's side
or He Xia's, this woman will be the trigger for the next war.
Your Highness.
Do you know where Prince Consort spent the night yesterday?
Prime Minister, you have crossed the line.
Your deceased father entrusted you to me.
I made an oath to look after Your Highness.
I just can't bear...
I can't bear to see Your Highness upset.
However, you're not my father after all.
Prime Minister need not worry about me.
I have my own ideas.
The decision to go to war is finalized.
We have sent our written challenge.
I'd prefer Prime Minister not bring this matter up again.
If you have the time, you should be helping Prince Consort out
to come up with ways to defeat the army of Jin State soon.
- Lu Yi. - Present.
See Prime Minister out.
- Princess... - Prime Minister, please.
I'll take my leave now.
They came all the way here.
They will surely come at us in full force to take down the city swiftly.
However, He Xia will surely shut the gates
and use the high walls to fend off our enemies' attack.
If we were to leave from the city gates, we'd have to wait until the war is over.
If the battle lasts too long, we surely can't take the gates.
We could only leave from here.
There's a mountain behind the manor.
Once we get through the mountain, we'd arrive at Chencang Pass.
Chencang Pass?
Why are we going to Chencang Pass?
We don't need to go through it.
We just need to keep heading south to get on Zhongnan Passage
and we'll be fine.
We're heading back to Great Jin?
Why are we going back to Great Jin?
Besides, Ping Ting
didn't you say that Sima Hong and He Xia conspired to have you killed?
It's dangerous for us to head back there.
He is there after all.
Ping Ting...
You're going to make offerings to His Highness?
Whatever happens, I have to see him.
I have yet to offer him a bowl of wine and a stick of incense.
I have yet to tell him that I'm carrying his child.
Zui Ju.
Would any wife not know where her husband is buried?
Ping Ting.
Don't worry.
I'll accompany you.
Yes.
Along with my child.
Along with your child.
We'll head back there together.
Report!
General!
This is our scout's drawing of the defense layout outside Yun-An City.
I've carried out the task to investigate Yun-An City.
After Yun-An City's walls were reinforced
it's five inches higher and seven inches thicker.
There are already soldiers stationed on the walls.
From what our scouts observed preliminary
the guards rotate every four hours.
- You are dismissed. - Yes.
Bai Lan State wasn't He Xia's home state in the first place.
Yet he now has Gui Chang Qing pushed out to an inferior standing.
He overturned Bai Lan State's policy to recuperate from war
and began training the army.
If Bai Lan State is now totally manipulated by He Xia
it will be harder to tackle.
After he had the walls of Yun-An City reinforced, it's no longer the same.
It defends well and it's difficult to attack.
This is what I dreaded the most.
What should we do now?
Take them by the blitz.
Blitz attack?
Yun-An City must be well stocked with rations.
I've long heard that Bai Lan State has been training its army.
He Xia has prepared for this battle for a long time.
Our army rode hard from afar and barged right into the state.
We came charging in so quickly
that our rations and supplies have fallen behind.
It might not be an issue now, but once this war drags on
our rations will surely lag behind.
Our army is likely to be caught between their attack and our supply shortage.
Considering these factors, we have to blitz attack.
Only then could we end this battle as soon as possible.
- Mo Ran. - Present!
Convey my orders.
Overnight, dig 12 tunnels under the walls into Yun-An City.
Early tomorrow morning
run the battering ram against the gates repeatedly
to act in coordination with our men from inside.
I accept the command!
Your Highness!
Your Highness.
There's no news of Princess Consort.
Your Highness.
I've spoken out of turn.
Please forgive me, Your Highness.
What wrong have you done?
It's my fault that I failed to protect her
and she had to go through such turmoil.
If anyone is to be blamed, it should be me.
Once I bring Ping Ting back from Bai Lan State
I'll ask her for forgiveness in person.
Ping Ting.
He Xia has given orders not to give us any wine.
But I've managed to steal some diluted wine from the kitchen.
Give it to me.
Your Highness.
I'm so useless.
Now that I'm imprisoned in here
I can't make you an urn of your favorite Fragrant Melody.
I can only make offerings to you with some diluted wine.
We made a promise to reunite in January.
Yet we're now separated by death.
Your Highness...
I miss you.
Your Highness.
Even if we're a million miles apart
even if I have to cross great distances
I will make it back to Great Jin to fulfill my duty as your wife.
I shall grow old alongside you.
Ping Ting.
You mustn't drink anymore.
You're still carrying His Highness's child.
A performance is on East Street today. I'll take a look.
Why are you going there?
My mother likes cakes.
I'm going to buy her some. I haven't been home for some time.
You can't go out.
- Miss! - Miss!
What are you doing?
I'm sorry!
Get in.
Greetings to Miss Bai.
What is going on?
Miss Bai.
Please try to talk this mischievous woman around.
- She just... Look at this. - Ping Ting!
It's fine if they won't tell me what's happening outside
but they won't even let me go out.
Miss Bai.
Before Prince Consort left, he gave orders that
Miss Bai is to be treated with great respect
while both Princess and Prince Consort are away.
We wouldn't have dared to stop Miss Zui Ju from doing anything
but then Prince Consort also gave orders to...
I'm also caught in a tight spot.
Please do understand my plight.
Housekeeper, why would you be so polite?
I was actually also Young Master's maid once.
I'm neither superior nor inferior to any of you.
However the others might regard us
we still have to abide by the regulations of the manor.
We're at fault today.
Housekeeper, do pardon us.
I wouldn't dare think so.
It's boring in Prince Consort's Manor!
I don't even get to go out.
Would it cost me a chunk of flesh if I do?
Miss Bai, look at her.
I think that you're just bored.
Since Housekeeper is here, we might as well ask him for a few men
to help us brush all the urns in our courtyard and fill them with water.
How about that?
Why are we filling them with water?
Hurry up.
You're the slowest one!
You're so clumsy. It's spilling out.
Pour it in there.
- Yes, yes. - I'll see if you dare to do it again.
Never again! I wouldn't dare do so again.
I bet that you won't.
Listen up!
You must fill all these urns with water today.
What are you staring at?
Believe it or not.
I'll tell your housekeeper to pay special attention to you!
You're still staring? Hurry up!
Madam, we've done wrong! Please let us off!
Listen up!
If you don't fill these urns up with water by the end of today
I won't let you have any meals.
- Yes! - Yes!
- Quickly! - Hurry up!
Hurry up!
I'm so tired!
These people aren't agile at all.
It took them so long to fill the urns up with just a bit of water.
I didn't see you carrying any water.
You were just ordering them about and you're so tired?
Ping Ting, how can you tease me?
By the way, Ping Ting
I didn't ask you because the housekeeper was present.
Why did you ask us to prepare so much water?
I saw that you had nothing to do, so I found you a chore.
You got to vent some frustration as well.
Isn't that great?
As if I'd believe that.
Ping Ting, how could you do anything without a reason?
Besides, everyone is watching your every move in this manor.
I don't believe that you did all this for such a boring reason.
What do you think I have in mind?
It just can't be that simple.
Ping Ting, tell me.
Have you forgotten what I told you yesterday?
What is it you said?
He Xia is defending the city from within.
Whatever strategy the enemies planned from the outside
will only be discovered and cracked by him.
The enemies will go for a blitz attack.
However, He Xia will use the advantage of the strength of his wall
and abundance in rations to drag out the battle.
By doing so, he can wear out his enemies that came from afar.
Here, quickly!
Quickly!
Fire.
Smoke them out.
- Quickly! - Retreat!
Prince Consort, the army of Jin State has retreated.
- I heard you. - Yes.
The weakness of Yun-An City is that
its water resources are outside of the city.
The one way to paralyze He Xia's attack
is to cut off water supplies from Yong-An Canal and Longshou Canal
or even poison the water.
This will force He Xia out to face his enemies head-on
to end the war swiftly.
Do you now understand why I've asked you to fill up all the urns with water?
I see.
It's fine if they cut off the water supply.
Every household would have saved a huge urn of water anyway.
However, if the water supply is poisoned
wouldn't every civilian in the city be in danger?
Which authoritative figure wouldn't do all they could to get what they want?
For the sake of their own glory
they would sacrifice thousands of soldiers to take down cities
or even carry out a massacre.
What is a bit of poison to them?
Which of them will win?
The key to victory flies by in a blink.
I can't guess who would win and I don't want to.
No political matter concerns us anymore.
Don't think too much about it either.
At the moment, we still have many issues to tackle.
By the way...
Ping Ting, why did you ask me to bring these things to you?
Are these what I asked you to find?
You said so yourself.
Find some things that can make sounds. Listen.
Isn't it quite loud?
That's loud enough.
Do you have a rope?
A rope?
There's one in the kitchen. I'll get it later.
But Ping Ting, what are you going to do with these?
After He Xia left, don't you think that we've been treated too well?
What does that mean?
I'm afraid that someone in the manor can't stand seeing us so carefree.
Someone is getting restless.
Really?
Report!
Prince Consort, I have an important matter to report.
Speak.
Prince Consort, our scout has intercepted
a confidential report of Jin State's army.
A confidential report of Jin State's army?
Read it out loud.
"A serious matter at hand."
"Dragon-Tiger, Dragon-Wolf and Dragon-Demon troops"
"have all been summoned back by His Majesty on their way here."
"Prince of Zhenbei is to retreat to Jin State immediately without delay."
Has this been verified?
The contents of the letter coincides with what our scout observed.
Most of Jin State's reinforcement troops have obeyed the decree and retreated.
Chu Bei Jie, you're on your own now.
I won't spare you a chance.
Your Highness.
His Majesty's confidential report has been intercepted by He Xia.
Now that their water supplies have been cut off
He Xia would surely take to a blitz strategy.
I believe he'd gloat over reading that confidential report.
Where is His Majesty's messenger?
He's waiting outside.
- Send him in. - Yes.
Greetings to Your Highness!
Where is the confidential report from His Majesty?
What are you going to do?
General, look.
"Feign defeat"?
Your Highness.
What does His Majesty mean?
This is the real confidential report that His Majesty sent.
His Majesty and I think alike.
He Xia thought that the war is about to end.
But the real battle is just about to begin.
Beware of any traps.
Guards! There are assassins!
Anyone?
There are assassins! Guards!
Anyone there?
- There are assassins! - Quickly!
Quickly!
Guards!
Assassins!
Quickly!
Useless scum! What are you here for?
You didn't even notice anyone breaking in?
You even let the assassins get into Miss Bai's room?
Should anything happen, can you bear the consequences?
Miss Bai, this is all due to my lack of supervision.
Miss Bai, are you all right?
Don't worry, Housekeeper.
Fortunately, Zui Ju and I have already been prepared for it.
Hence, we're not hurt.
It's good that Miss Bai is unharmed.
It's good that you're unharmed.
Master Housekeeper.
What are we to do with these two men?
These two?
I dare you to assassinate us!
Serves you right!
Miss Zui Ju, they are assassins!
Zui Ju, come back here.
These two assassins aren't just ordinary folk.
Housekeeper, do take caution.
Yes.
What are you still waiting for?
Drag the two assassins away and lock them up for interrogation!
Quickly!
- Yes! - Yes!
Hurry up!
- Move it! - Hurry up!
Fortunately, Miss Bai is alert and noticed this attack ahead of time
to plan an escape strategy.
Otherwise... It frightens me just to think what could have happened.
I wonder how Miss Bai intends to inform Prince Consort of this matter.
Young Master is with the army now.
He must be occupied with military affairs.
This is but a trivial incident in the manor.
If we were to report it to Young Master
it would make the manor appear petty
and also distract him from the battle.
It's highly inappropriate to distract Young Master.
Miss Bai means to...
This matter will have to be reported to Young Master sooner or later.
It's just not right to do so now.
However, while I'm in Prince Consort's Manor
someone is actually out to kill me.
It's not the best to do nothing about it either.
Since the assassins could enter
the heavily guarded Prince Consort's Manor at will
they must be very skilled.
Someone must have sent them here.
Therefore, we can only reach out for help.
Miss Bai means to report it to the local authorities?
This isn't just a simple case.
The local authorities won't be able to help.
By the way, is the princess still in the capital?
This is...
This probably isn't appropriate.
This concerns life and death.
What's inappropriate about it?
Housekeeper.
You might have been mistaken.
Although I grew up with His Highness, we're not what you think we are.
Yes.
Hence, please report this matter to Her Highness immediately.
When you go over there, please hand this to her.
This is...
Greetings to Your Highness.
Long live the princess.
Greetings to Your Highness.
Don't stand on such ceremony. Do rise quickly.
Miss Bai, there have been several battles on the frontline.
I've been swamped by endless state affairs.
Hence, I couldn't visit you recently.
Don't take it to heart, Miss Bai.
Congratulations to Your Highness.
The army of Bai Lan State has had a first victory.
I've just been informed of it last night.
How do you already know about it?
I couldn't sleep the night before and, judging by the war cry
the enemies were attacking while we defended.
Prince Consort had also built the sturdiest wall.
If the enemies were to attack in full force
they will surely be defeated.
Yesterday, it was very smoky outside the city.
It means that the enemies' underground strategy has been discovered.
Today, judging by Your Highness's expression and calm demeanor
I believe we must have won.
Hence I congratulate Your Highness.
Miss Bai, you're indeed phenomenal.
Simply with such traces, you could already make out the outcome of a battle.
You truly are a female strategist who could maneuver a battle from miles away.
These are but a few tricks.
Your Highness is too kind.
I heard that there was an incident in Prince Consort's Manor last night.
You even sent someone to report it to me personally
along with this embroidered fabric.
I think that Miss Bai must have embroidered this yourself.
You're so thoughtful and nimble with your hands.
Your embroidery skills are of such superb craftsmanship.
It's a pity that there's only one lone goose on it.
Sadly, it takes two to play a game.
I'm not skilled in embroidery
so I had Lu Yi embroider another goose next to it.
Although my maid isn't as skilled as Miss Bai
I think that a pair of geese is much better than just one.
Miss Bai, would you take a look and see if you like it?
Zui Ju.
I have matters to discuss with Her Highness.
Excuse yourself for a while.
Ping Ting.
Lu Yi, you should all step out as well.
Yes.
Miss Bai, what is this for?
I have long been waiting here for Your Highness.
I hope that Your Highness can uphold justice for me.
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