"While my cherished Roman Empire brazenly invoke it puffed up elitism, when compared to the Tang Empire's multi-cultural influence in science, art and learning it's the Tang that bustles with liberal tolerance." "The Tang Emperor has no need to trumpet the greatness of his domain, rather it simply is." "Now a month after arriving in Chang'an," "I have an interview with His Beloved Holiness with whom I hope for a lively dialogue, be it discussing politics or religion." "What's in heaven's name is this place?" "!" "This is the Tang Empire." "The envoys from the Byzantine Empire have arrived!" "I hear that the Head Envoy is quite the music aficionado." "As Your Majesty knows, music is avery important part of my life." "If you don't mind, I would like to hear an elegy from your country." "If Your Majesty permits, I have many joyous carols to offer from my homeland as well." "Save them for next time." "I would like to hear an elegy today." "At first, I couldn't surmise what the Emperor was thinking on that day." "Later, I learned that the Emperor's army had been victorious in the border war." "However, he chose to abort the victory celebration." "In its stead, he chose to observe with honor the casualties of both his troops and the enemy's." "This was Li Longji, Emperor of the Tang Empire." "This dancer looks as sorrowful as the dance itself." "Who is she?" "She is the wife I have chosen for Prince Mao." "She will become a princess." "I arraged for her to appear to day," "I want people to see her talent and to know that" "She is fit to be a part of the Imperial Family." "She should be in the family, indeed." "Lady of the Dynasty" "Who was that dancer?" "She's the daughter of Yang Xuanyan from Shu Prefecture, Yang Yuhuan." "She moved to her cousin Yang Guozhong's home here in Chang'an after her parents died." "She's now my choice to be Prince Mao's wife." "I want her to come see me tomorrow." "Yes." "Action!" "Come on, Prince Ying!" "Prince Mao is clearly the star of the team!" "I can't tell who's Crown Prince Ying and who's Prince Mao." "Please choose the team you bet on." "Are you Yang Guozhong?" "How could they break the rules" "Is Yang Yuhuan your younger sister?" "She's my younger cousin." "My name is Yang Guozhong." " You're the head of your household?" "That's correct." " Good." "Has Yuhuan done something wrong?" "She's not part of my household, sir." "His Majesty and Consort Wu have taken a liking to Yang Yuhuan." "They wish to make her the wife of Prince Mao." " Which one is Prince Mao?" " That one." "Yang Yuhuan needs to pay Consort Wu a visit at the Imperial Palace this evening." "I can't see his face." "Congratulations to the Yang family." "Mother." "Is Your Highness all right?" "No one got hurt." "My apologies for mistakenly harming Prince Mao." "I saw everything." "A tuberose." "Lady Yang has arrived!" "Let her present herself before me." "A snow orchid." "Kneel down." "A common girl Yang Yuhuan wished to greet the most respected Consort Wu." "Stand up." "I apologize for what the palace maids did earlier." "I will punish them accordingly." "Thank you, Your Majesty." "I think Prince Mao will like you very much." "We're family from now on." "Can... can I meet Prince Mao beforehand?" "You want me to marry him, but I've never met him, how will I know if I love him?" "Does it really matter whether... you love him or not?" "I've heard that Your Majesty met the Emperor before you married him." "More than that" "His Majesty and I grew up together." "I like your personality." "Very well, I'll break the rules just this once for you." "Lady Yang, please wait for a while." "The Emperor's beloved 18th son Li Mao married today." "The bride, a civilian named Yang Yuhuan may lack Royal breeding but certainly does not lack God's gift of natural blessing." "She was the dancer we saw at the victory ceremony." "A Prince's wedding may be a well-suited political stratagem." "used to unite friendly nations." "But that doesn't seem to matter in the Tang." "Maybe they simply don't need it." "Your Highness, we've only seen each other in paintings and haven't met each other before." "Yet, we're a couple from to night." "Please make a vow, Your Highness." "Didn't we already make our marriage vows at the wedding?" "That was for other people to hear." "I want you to make your vow to me." "If we're not sincere to each other, Your Highness might spend the rest of your life with the girl in painting instead." "She'll never grow old, never get ill or upset anyone." "I, Li Mao, vow to love Yang Yuhuan" "like she's a part of me." "Were they here with us just now?" "Yes, and they will be here all night to serve us." "What's this?" "It's for us to clean ourselves... after... after..." "Oh, how can anyone sleep like this?" "Your Highness, are you all right?" " Hey, you!" "You are on purpose." " You can't blame me." "Crown Prince," "Father favors Consort Wu and Mao too much." "Now there's Yang Yuhuan in the picture." " What are you trying to say?" " This family is going to take your Crown someday." "Is your child getting better?" "I'll send the Imperial Physician to your house tomorrow." "We're not worthy of Your Majesty's care." "Children are all we have." "V.O. The princess are about to have an archery game." " Stop." " Your Majesty." "You brought the wrong arrows." "Our Emperor offers his best wished to Your Majesty." "He also has a message." "Please go ahead." "Your Majesty, your empire lies in the east, our empire lies in the west." "Unfortunately, in the center and quite between us is the Caliphate." "We understand that they constantly put your border at risk." "If our two great empires implement a joint battle plan we can end their government and split the land evenly." "My core area is China, and my core interests lie in this land as well." "When someone wants the benefit of owning the entire world, he inherits all of its troubles as well." "I understand Your Majesty's wisdom now." "Besides, if we take out the Caliphate, we'll border each other." "New troubles will appear." " Your Majesty." " Rise." "This is Lady Yang Yuhuan, the wife of my 18th son Li Mao." "This is Sir Tacitus, the Byzantine Head Envoy." "He's also a Bishop, as well as an excellent musician." "I hear that Sir Tacitus is a musician, a great Konghou player." "Konghou?" "It means harp." "If I may, I would like to ask Sir Tacitus to... to give me some Konghou lessons." "Sir Tacitus, the princess is actually already quite skilled." "She will not disappoint you as your pupil." "My wishes is to not disappoint Your Majesty or Your Highness." "Thank you, Father!" "Thank you, Sir!" " Please excuse us." " Please." "Where's Li Mao?" "His eyes are glued to the Arabian dancers outside." "Well, you should go get his focus back, then!" "Father called us!" "We have the seal to prive it!" "Later, the prosperous Tang Empire showed another side of itself." "The internal rivalry amongst the long line of princes in hope of the eventual inheritance of the throne" "is as treacherous as those we have experienced." "My sources tell me that three of the Princes including Crown Prince Li Ying led a night raid on the palace and were arrested by Imperial Guards." "With frightening impartiality the Emperor was ordered the immediate execution of the three as traitors." "Don't feel bad." "If they don't die, then it would be His Majesty and us who would be killed." "Princes come into this world, half of them get killed and the rest grow up in blood." "His Majesty was the same." "He's clear-headed when it comes to this personal grief and national affairs," "Yuhuan, take these flowers to His Majesty." "Mao, now that the position of heir to the throne is open," "I want to see you become the Crown Prince." "Then I'll be at peace." "I'll help you, but it requires you to grow up faster." "Your innocent childhood is over, so don't let your mother down." "Promise me." "I promise, Mother." "Mother has just finished this floral arragement." "She asked me to bring it to Father." "Where would Father like me to put it?" "Wherever you deem suitable." "Lishi, put up lights." "How are your music lessons with Sir Tacitus going?" "Quite well." "Are you able to perform with it?" "What would Father like to hear?" "Whatever you want to play." "My greeting, Sir." "Are you from within the Justice Ministry?" "No." "I'm the keeper of this hall." "Did you witness the execution?" "Yes." "They were screaming about their innocence." "Crown Prince Li Ying went mad, cursing Consort Wu." "Saying that her personal guard handed him a jade seal, ordering the Prince to return swiftly to the Imperial Palace." "He had no reason to accuse Consort Wu..." "Presenting General Li." "Gao Lishi, you can cut me a thousand times" "I still know nothing about Consort Wu and the Crown Prince!" "Did I ask about Consort Wu?" "Did I ask what she had to do with the Crown Prince?" "Why would I need to cut you a thousand times?" "How would you like me to cut your daughter?" "Greeting Your Majesty." "Dearest Gao Lishi, please join me for a cup of tea." "Your Majesty." "I have arrested General Li, and he has already told me everything." "Tonight I will report to His Majesty what really happened to Crown Prince Ying." "Must His Majesty know this?" "We can't turn the clock back." "Why must you force His Majesty to feel betrayed again?" "We both know he can't stand betrayal." "That's why His Majesty should know the truth," "His sons never betrayed him." "And what about this wife's betrayal?" "Your Majesty didn't betray him" "You were just selfishly loving your own child." "Why are you telling this first?" "You love His Majesty." "You need your last hours as well." "Where is the jade seal?" "It's in a drawer in the floral room." "Mother, what's wrong?" "!" "Your Majesty, the princes were conspired against." " Your Majesty, mother is..." " Get out of my way." "Is this your idea of a protest?" " Father?" "!" " If you want death, then that's what you'll get!" "Let go." "Don't do this in Yuhuan's presence." "I broke your heart, I'm sorry." "Who are you?" "You've called me Beloved Little Sister since I was 15 years old." "All the wrong I did are for our family, for our som Mao," "I just did what I thought I had to do." "Embrace your Little Sister." "How could you do this to your family?" "I didn't expect your forgiveness." "I just want an embrace." "Father, please... 29 years...!" "You and I have been married for 29 years, but I still don't know what kind of person you are." "You love children, and so do I." "I love all of my children, but you only love your own." " Mother!" " Little Sister!" "Father." "Yuhuan, you will tell no one about what happened here." "This is an Imperial decree." "Was Prince Mao part of Consort" "Wu's conspiracy?" "I dare not say it." "Please let me investigate it." "On the day of Consort Wu's funeral," "I received a delayed reply from my emperor." "He instructed me to pursue a strong alliance with Consort Wu." "He assured me that the country's finance department would support all expenses occurred." "At the end of the letter, he also stated that my description of Yang Yuhuan greatly intrugued him." "However, all I could do now was to reply, that Yang Yuhuan and her husband Li Mao were planning a game of polo to console His Majesty after the grieving death of Consort Wu." "Good." "Yuhuan is playing extremely well, just as well as men..." "Consort Wu certainly had a good taste." "She picked her as the princess right after seeing her dance at the funeral." "I thought Yuhuan was chosen to dance because she was already chosen to be the princess." "No, it's..." "Long live, our Great Emperor!" "Long live." "The game continued." "Our Emperor scored!" "Long live!" "Long live!" "Thank you, Father." "Let's end the match for today!" "No!" "Let's continue." "Yuhuan, are you hurt?" "No." "Thank you, Father." "Find me the best craftman in the palace..." "Just have him brings me his tools." "Consort Wu lied to me!" "When Yuhuan danced at the funeral, she hadn't been chosen to be Mao's wife!" "But she is now." "It's nothing." "I'd just thought of something else..." "for a moment." "Prince Mao, there is something I have to..." "I am happy for Your Highness." "The sword cannot be taken inside." "I wish to see my Father!" " YOUR HIGHNESS!" " Where is Father?" " Put down the sword!" " Mao, what's wrong with you?" "Does Father like Yuhuan?" "I can send Yuhuan to the palace tomorrow." "What is this nonsense?" "I would like you to decide on a new heir to the throne." "Is this a trade off?" "!" "You have the guts to bring a sword into the palace, which means you are my son after all." "But no son of mine would EVER negotiate a trade with me." "I have NEVER bargained with anyone over anything in my life!" "Get out!" "When did it start?" "I can read between the lines to what Gao Lishi has implied." "I know what's happening between you and my Father." "Are you crazy?" "That's impossible!" "His Majesty is your father!" "Everything in this world belongs to him." "We're no exception." "Mao..." "How did you respond to him?" "I demanded that he make me heir to the throne." "You're "TRADINNG" me?" "You're "TRADINNG" me?" "Don't you remember your vow from our wedding night?" "You said you'd love me like I'm..." "Like I'm a part of you!" "Why did you lie to me?" "That's your vow." "Mao..." "I know you just made an impulsive mistake." "Mao, you know what." "The Imperial Physician came today." "He just examined me." "I'm pregnant." "We're going to be parents!" "Approaching His Majesty in the imperial palace with a sword is regarded as felony." "A suggestion of a trade involving Yuhuan and the crown with His Majesty is a terrible insult." "Besides..." "There's something you should know..." "Your mother's hands are tainted with Crown Prince Ying's blood." "I'm sorry, Yuhuan." "This child cannot come into this world." "Mao!" "I can survive only if I leave you." " Please!" "Call the Imperial Physician!" "Hurry" " I'm scared." "Yuhuan!" "I'm scared!" "You don't know what my Mother has done!" "Please... save our child." "That bastard Mao." "And you, Gao Lishi," " What have you done?" " Your Majesty." "His Highness entered the hall with a sword, showing that his conscience is clear." "At least Your Majesty knows that he was not a part of Consort Wu's conspiracy." "Also, the fact that he was willing to trade Yuhuan to become the heir tells Yuhuan that His Highness was not the type of man she want to be with after all." "A good while after Consort Wu died of an illness, my prize pupil Princess Yuhuan removed herself with great haste to a Taoist temple." "Official documents sate that she wished for prayerful seclusion on behalf of Consort Wu's salvation as well as her own" "However, no one outside the palace knows the truth of it." "Dearest Gao Lishi." "Sir." "In here, you can call me Bishop." "Bishop, I'm looking for a quiet place." "This is a quiet place." "Very peaceful." "You can find solace here, for or as long as you want," "whenever you want." "His Majesty's holding a military drill in the plains, and he wishes you to hold a Taoist ceremony for the soldiers." "I'm not going." "Going against an Imperial Decree is punished by death." "I'm not afriad of living." "Do you think I'm afriad of dying?" "There's no need to be afriad of life and death." "It's more difficult to be trapped between the two." "Master, please let me stay." "Leave me to choose my own way of living." "You don't belong here, and you won't hang on much longer." "What's next?" "When the Tibetan lands raised trouble at our borders," "We fought back and took ten of their cities." "However, the 500,000 people in these cities are not loyal to Tang." "Yet, we're sending them supplies every year." "She is not willing to come." "You're not going to greet me?" "Did Your Majesty want me to kneel in the temple?" " Yuhuan." " I'm called Priestess Taizhen now." "I know you have a lot of resentment in your heart." "It's all my fault." "But I expect you not to be so depressed." "I am quite well here." "Aunt." "The painting is almost finished." "Would Your Majesty like to give it a title?" "I went to the Taoist temple and saw my aunt." "She resisted the arraged marriage in favor of love." "That was already 50 years ago." "What's on Your Majesty's mind?" "Consort Mei, you are His Majesty's woman, so how come you come and convince me to be with him?" "Is it because you love him, or because you're afriad of him?" "Of course it's because I love him." "I love him more than I love myself." "You must be very happy with this love from deep within." "Being the last woman of a man is a real happiness." "You don't believe me so easily." "That doesn't matter." "Whatever happens outside the temple has nothing to do with me anymore." "If you can truly let all that go, that's the kind of life you can lead." "But you'll miss out on so much in life." "You're a new person now, since you became a Taoist priestess." "This's the music His Majesty's composed after he visited you, a song called "Raiment of Rainbows and Feathers"." "It's as though the letter addressed to you." "Sir, I asked you to come because of this harp." "His Majesty gave it to me, but I don't think I'll ever play it again." "I've never shown my gratitude for your harp lessons." "Please take it." "Your Highness, this was a gift from the Byzantine Emperor." "I have no authority to accept it." "His Majesty has arrived!" "If you excuse me, Your Majesty..." "Sir, please wait a moment." "Sir, if a father begins courting his son's former wife, what would your God say?" "Love is not easy." "God allows all human foibles their finite destiny." "However, God doesn't always approve of all human foibles." "Then how can your God allow for things he doesn't approve of to happen?" "That's a question I too wish to ask him when I meet him." "Your hand was hurt?" "Yuhuan." "Is your heart really dead?" "It's Your Majesty that should give up." "Love is not easy..." "Falling in love again is even more difficult." "I understand your pain." "We actually share some common experiences." "What might that be, Your Majesty?" "Look at how" "Your Majesty bid farewell to Consort Wu!" " Mother loved you so much..." " You have NO IDEA how she treated me, and you certainly have no idea how I treated her!" "Yuhuan." "I will treat you well in my own way." "What way do you know other than authority?" "You want to talk about authority?" "!" "I have the greatest authority of the Tang Empire," "And I WILL marry you!" "You don't even have the right to die." "Because your life is being wagered now." "We will bet our lives that I will have a place in your heart someday!" "Envoy, sir, you are a witness now." "The Emperor of Tang, a man of utmost power and authority, put his own life at stake gambling for love." "Without embarrasssment," "He chose me, a foreigner, to serve as his witness." "And prove this to be an enigmatic country to say the least." "I don't know if I'm witnessing a mature love, or the kind of affair known better to a mere juvenile." "But at this point my heart has become full of high wishes for Yang Yuhuan." "You can sleep here tonight." "I'll sleep in the side quarters." "I'll have the historian write in the royal journal that the emperor spent his wedding night waiting for Imperial Consort Yang in the secondary residence." "I'd like to congratulate Your Highness again." "With Your Highness as the Crown Prince," "Tang is in good hands." "Um, vitals are good." "However, Your Highness seemed displeased at the Consort's naming ceremony." "It's such a happy occasion!" "I wasn't displeased!" "Your Highness should smile more." "Take the medicine I gave you." "Your Majesty," "His Majesty's meeting with the envoys from the Caliphate today." "The meeting will take place at the military training grounds." "In accordance with formalities, Your Majesty should be present." "If I don't go." "Will the officials and diplomats consider it impolite?" "His Majesty only ordered me to ask if Your Majesty will be there or not" "Then tell His Majesty" "I'm not going." "We can't just will ourselve into a peaceful coexistence with other countries." "We have to do something to secure it." "That's why I chose the military training grounds as a meeting place to show the Tang's military prowness." " So they will know that they have no choice but to coexist with us peacefully." " Yes." "I don't want to embarrass the Tang Empire." "Consort Mei has arrived." "Now that you are here, I can go back." "Please wait." "No." "Mei, since you're here already, you should take MY place alongside His Majesty." "I invited you, but you refused to come." "That's why Consort Mei was there." "You're the Emperor of Tang, you never lack the necessities at your disposal." "We can't lose face." "Yuhuan, you're drunk." "If you want to do so after you get sober tomorrow," "I would gladly oblige every night." "Right!" "That's the way!" "Yuhuan, such a good performance!" "I have a request of high importance." "I've been composing a song "Raiment of Rainbows and Feathers" for you and for lovers everywhere under the broad blue sky." "I'd like you to create a dance to this music." "How can I possibly take on such a heavy responsibility?" "Yuhuan, don't waste your talent." "I'm asking you to create this dance for yourself, for Tang, for lovers everywhere." " When I pass away." " Your Majesty, don't say such things." "Your Majesty'll live for 10,000 years." "You believe in such things?" "People rarely live over 70 years." "We only have this life together." "As for us... if you still have no feelings for me after you finish the dance, then I declare myself the loser of our wager." "I'll let you leave the palace, and you can live out your life as you wish." "But Your Majesty." "You said at the temple that the wager is Your Majesty's life..." "What if you lose?" "If you leave," "I'll become hollow." "Such punishment is enough, isn't it?" "If you think it's not enough..." "Consort Yang hasn't been seen for a month." "Is it possible that she's pregnant?" "I heard from the palace maid that our Father and Yuhuan haven't yet consummated their marriage." "How could that be possible?" "!" "Consort Yang'll get pregnant sooner or later." "There'll be greate trouble if she's pregnant." "Father favors her." "The position of an heir hangs in the balance again." "Let's find a way to look at Father's royal journal first." "Why are you still talking about this?" "I'm not worried that I won't be able to take the Caliphate with the Byzantines." "I'm worried about the aftermath!" "We won't have enough people immigrating there to help with the cultural transition to Chinese rule." "How long do you think we will stay there?" "!" "What'll you do about the 10 cities in the Tibetan lands?" "If we simply withdraw our troops, they will think we don't have the ability to maintain our military." "There maybe trouble later on." "Summon their envoy." "Your impetuous one!" "Leave." "How did I act so impetuously?" "We're going to see His Majesty!" "His Majesty went to see Consort Mei." "Bring me all the satin embroideries His Majesty gave me." "Did chase after me to reproach me again?" "!" "Allowing the dog to ruin the game was impetuous!" "You would've lost if I hadn't let the dog go!" "What do you know about the game?" "!" "I know my husband." "I know the Tang Emperor can't lose to a foreigner.." "The Tang Emperor doesn't need your harmful assistance." "Consort Mei won't offer harmful assistance, is that right?" "Why did you visit her after the chess match?" "I'll visit anyone I want!" "You went to see Mao a few days ago, But I didn't suspect you of anything." "There's nothing to be suspicious about!" "His wife is pregnant, so I went to pay a visit offering gifts, as their mother." " Is that wrong?" "!" " How about him?" " Who's he to you?" " Naturally, he's my son now." "This is too much." " You can never see him again!" " What's Your Majesty thinking?" "Is Your Majesty jealous of your own son?" "!" "Jealous!" "We've been married for months." "But no one knows I've been carrying this sham identity as your husband." "How am I jealous when you're the one who wrapped a building with satin?" "!" "That's right!" "She'a great beauty and I'm a stupid mare!" "Fair enough." "You should strip me of my title and expel me from the palace." "I won't look back!" "That is a rebellious act!" "FINE!" "I'll show you." "It's my rebellion!" "Your Majesty," "His Majesty knows that he'd acted out of character yesterday." "He regrets what he did." "He asked your Old Servant to come see Your Majesty." "There are fresh lychees from Lingnan." "His Majesty picked them himself." "Lingnan's thousands of miles away from Chang'an." "Did he fly there and back?" "His Majesty had the trees shipped here." "The Old Servants knows that Your Majesty was trying to protect His Majesty by letting the dog loose on the chessboard." "But it was a political game that His Majesty had carefully planned for a long time." "He was planning to intentionally lose the ten troubled cities in the Tibetan lands." "And he was losing for their trust." "A loss at chess would mean victory!" "How would I understand such things?" "How can he do this?" "He went to see Consort Mei in the morning, then in the afternoon..." "Consort Mei's already decided to move back to Luoyang." "His Majesty simply went to say goodbye." "Your Majesty, the Old Servant doesn't know what kind of bet you have going on with His Majesty," "But he said that he's lost." "He also says that Your Majesty doesn't have to finish the dance anymore." "You can leave if you wish." "He won't bother you anymore." "His Majesty also says his heart is full of love towards Your Majesty." "You're stepping into a strategic location - the Yumen Pass." " Your Majesty..." " Call me Longji from now on..." "Longji..." "I've been castrated." "I'm not a real man." "It's an honor not everyone can embrace." "Are there people like me in your empire?" "Yes." "And some of them are the finest singers in the empire." "They have unique heavenly voices that others simply cannot have." "I had three uncles." "They were all taken away during their sleep." "One was poisoned." "One was forced to hang himself." "The third one was kicked out of the palace three times." "Then became an emperor." "He was then kicked out, dethroned, and returned to the throned again." "In the end, he was still poisoned in his sleep." "When I was a child, I worried every night about being taken away." "I would wake up from nightmares every night." "That illness stuck with me for life even for all these years after I became an emperor." "I didn't want you to know about this." "It's too embarrassing." "When we have a child," "I'll make sure he won't have to grow up in fear." "He won't have nightmares." "Longji." "Longji." "Why did you make my cousin a Chancellor?" "Is it because of me?" "He's loyal, exeis at financial planning and is devoted to his duty." "But he indulges in gold." "A chancellor is supposed to look after the nation!" "Yuhuan." "It's me who looks after the nation." "In the Tang court, the Persian Emperor grew up here, the Secretary General is Japanese, and the Vice Chancellor is from Annan (Vietnam)." "Even the general responsible for protecting the Imperial Family's from Tianzhu (India)." "They're so open to the outsiders that they don't emulate an empire." "It's more like..." "like a world." "Father, you shouldn't be fulling Yang Guozhong's intention to promote General An Lushan to become a military governor of three garrisons." "As governor of the three, his power'll become too overwhelming." "I never doubt those who serve me, and I'd never ask for the services of those I doubt." "What about for caution's sake?" "I remember you and your mother's teachings." "Your mother?" "Women and princes shouldn't interfere in politics, haven't you learned that?" "No general should rule an army for too long, and a general shoudn't control too many soldiers." "The Tang Empire has 500,000 soldiers." "He alone controls 200,000 of them!" " What if An Lushan plans to rebel?" " Silence!" "This was my voice of concern for You my Father, and for Tang." "I'll take my leave now!" "You've crossed the line." "I've spoiled you." "I should send you to the border to learn some manners!" "I don't know if your attempt to persuade His Majesty was right." "But I do know that you did it for him, and for Tang." "Take good care of your family." "Take care of yourself." "You're in even stronger need of protecting yourself and taking good care of my Father." "The Imperial court is a dangerous place." "Father banished Prince Mao from Chang'an..." "It must be Consort Yang and Yang Guozhong who drove Father to do so." "Crown Prince, then the position of heir to the throne is hanging now." "Then see who is the final winner." "Your Majesty," "I found this in Consort Yang's soup." " What is it?" " It's persimmon stalk powder." "It has no flavor or taste when boiled in water, and it's not tixic." "But it'll prevent a woman from getting pregnant." "Summon more guards to stand watch." "But first, shut off all the princes' homes." "Not just the princes, all the ministers close to them as well." "There're soldiers everywhere." "What've you done?" "I didn't do anything." "Yuhuan, Yuhuan," "I'm sorry I have't protected you properly." "Longji." "What's happened?" "I've misunderstood you." "I've been wondering why haven't you be able to get pregnant." "Now I know that's because someone has been tampering with your food." "Longji, it has nothing to do with others." "I've been adding persimmon stalk powder in my soup myself..." " I don't want to get pregnant." "I..." " Is there anything you dare not do, Yang Yuhuan?" "GET OUT!" "Go back to your family!" " I'm stripping you off your title!" " Longji." "Who says you're permitted to return?" "Longji." "I am a woman." "Why wouldn't I want a child?" "Everyone knows" "Your Majesty loves me." "The princes all pay close attention to my womb, worrying that our child will be the next heir to the throne." "Our child could cause turmoil, start bloodshed." "There is already an heir to the throne." "I won't name our son the heir." "I belive you, I do." "But will everybody believe that?" "Yuhuan, I just want to have a child with you" "like a common person." "I don't need the respect that comes with my son's status." "Having you Longji is enough for me in this life." "Prince Li Heng, my brother." "What's wrong with our Father?" "Just for a woman!" "I almost lost my life for a child that doesn't exist." "Are you planning something, Heng?" "Just wait." "An Lushan, the Emperor's most trusted general." "incited a rebellion." "Prince Mao hdd warned his father of this danger." "Although the Great Tang's strength was such that no outsider could threaten it, interal conflicts shook its foundation to the core." "Now a growing giant was reduced to a vulnerable child." "No heart could endure such a betrayal and the Great Tang, he was no exception." "During the calamity that beset the Great Tang, nobody thought that it would be the cowardly and banished Prince Mao who would emerge from his exile, return to Chang'an." "According to the current situation, we have no choice but defend Luoyang." "Father!" "You came back, Mao." "I volunteer to lead our troops to put down the rebellion." "Please give me Your permission!" "I appreciate your intentions, but I have to kill this bastard myself!" "In that case, please let me go ahead and clear the path for you to kill the traitor." "If Father gives me permission," "I'll go as a general of Tang." "If Father doesn't," "I'll go as a common person of Tang." "Gao Lishi." "Father," "Mother," "my past faults are heavy." "Let me make up for my past mistakes!" "I've made mistakes as well..." "The initial battle against An Lushan's rebels was violent and bloody." "Prince Li Mao was left with only a few men, but he still continued his fight against An's powerful forces." "His choice of such suicidal fate was in fact a last act of redemption." "General An orders executing everyone who stops now." "Execution for anyone who stops now." "Luoyang.." "has fallen." "What has happened to Consort Mei?" "Consort Mei committed suicide by diving into a well." "She laid down her life for her country." " I, Yang Yuhuan," " I, Li Longji, vow to stay together, till death do us part!" "As the rebels pressed forward, the Emperor had to flee the palace in Chang'an." "The imperial court, which was already precarious, grew more unpredictable from the crisis" "Although I am worried for the Tang Empire," "I'm grief stricken as I think of what may come of Yang Yuhuan." "Longji, If the Great Wall is to fall one day do you think the debris would look beautiful?" "Yuhuan, the wall'll stand for 1000 years." "I'm talking about 1000 years later." "Father's already reached Mawei Slope." "He only has Chen Xuanli's 2,000 soldiers with him." "Brother Heng, have you had enough of living in fear?" "Yesterday was the last day of that!" "The Crown Prince Heng and his men have stopped 30 miles away." "The situation is delicate." "We may be at the edge of naming a new emperor." "How are the troops heres?" "They're loyal to Your Mejasty, but they're blaming for our current state on Yang Guozhong." "General Chen's already requested a meeting with your old humble servant." "Any conversation about Guozhong immediately involves Yuhuan." "There's some resentment towards Her Majesty as well..." "Longji." "Is there anything wrong?" "For me, His Majesty and the Tang Emperor are the top priority." "You must feel the same." "This point isn't up to negotiation." " Agreed." " Good." "Yang Guozhong is guilty, but he doesn't deserve death." "I understand the military point of view." "You can kill him, but ONLY under His Majesty's orders." "Eliminating Yang Guozhong isn't enough." "Yang Guozhong is Consort Yang's cousin." "The soldiers worry that she'll take revenge on them for killing Yang Guozhong." "His Majesty has never interfere with the court." "She and her cousin're completely different." " You're a general in the palace." "You cannot see that?" " I know, but the soldiers don't." "I'm their leader, but in the current state," "I can only follow the general opinion." "If Consort Yang doesen't die, the soldiers'll rebel against His Majesty." "The two of us can't protect His Majesty and Tang." "The Tang Empire and its Emperor won't handle its consequences." "If they kill Yang Guozhong," "Would I be the next one to die?" "Yuhuan." "Even if the wall falls, the vow between you and me still remains." " We want to see His Majesty!" " We want to see His Majesty..." "Your Majesty, they've already executed Yang Guozhong." "I still have the authority here." "I can kill, but I can also forgive." "I forgive you for killing this man without a proper trail." "Retreat and end this uproar." "Your Majesty, Yang Guozhong committed treason." "His entire family has to die!" " Silence!" " Your Majesty!" "The entire Yang family has to die." "By saying entire family, did you include me as well?" "Your Majesty." "Consort Yang's bewitched Your Majesty." "That's why Yang Guozhong was able to commit his evil deeds!" "Your Majesty, the soldiers've already killed Yang Guozhong, but Consort Yang is still by Your Majesty's side." "If we don't kill her, the soldiers'll never feel secure." "We beg Your Majesty to follow the code of law." "Follow the code of law!" "Your Majesty, if the consort doesn't die, the soldier won't dispatch." "We can't protect Your Majesty." "She's the part of the Yang Family, so you can't feel secure if she doesn't die." "But she's my beloved consort as well." "Do you think you'll be safe if she dies?" "Aren't you worried about me taking revenge on you?" "I'll kill the entire family of anyone who dares to lay a finger on my consort!" "Your Majesty." "Then we can only protect the Empire." "Is this a mutiny?" "!" "We don't dare to do so." "Then retreat!" "I'm telling you," "I AM THE TANG EMPIRE!" "STAND DOWN!" "Longji." "I would like to ask you generals, which corrupted officials did I vouch for?" "which good officials did I execute?" "The history books are filled with emperors' women who interfere with government" "General." "How am I the same as them?" "An Lushan committed treason." "Yang Guozhong also caused harm to the nation." "But why... why don't anyone speak up" "when they were appointed?" "If we're talking about fault, everyone's at fault, including His Majesty." "Aren't you all to be blamed?" "If there's a general here who feels he has no fault whatsoever, then let him come" "and cast the first stone." "If there's one mistake I made," "it's that I loved dancing and music." "But the Empire can't be destroyed by just a dance or a song." "For the stability of the court," "I..." "I gave up having a child of my own." "What else can a woman do, General?" "Your Majesty, when we retreat to Chengdu, the Crown Prince..." "I'm under the orders from my brother... the Crown Prince to protect my Father." "The Imperial Guard can guarantee the Emperor's safty whole night through" "Dear Old Man, please escort my Father back to Mawei Slope tonight." "You only have 2,000 soldiers." "There're 6,000 cavalry soldiers ahead." "How do you suggest protecting my Father better?" " Do you understand?" " Ridiculous!" " What're you trying to say?" "!" " I'm not implying anything." "Your safty is number one, and someone else's..." "Longji." "Don't." "This letter is from Prince Heng to our Father." "Read it." "If you execute the Yang Family," "I'll protect Your Majesty till death." "If Yang Guozhong and Yang Yuhuan don't die, then I have no choice" " but to act at my own will." " SILENCE!" "Father, you've already killed three of your sons... because of Consort Wu!" "How many of us... would you kill over this woman!" "Longji," "I'll leave now." "Longji." "Sir Tacitus." "Pardon me, Your Majesty." "I've come to take you away." "Please put this on." "Don't worry Your Majesty," "No one dare touch me or my men." "Unless they wish to start a war with my empire." "Thank you, Sir Tacitus." "You became our witness at the temple, and you're still our witness today." "I've always waited for others to act." "Today." "I want to be in charge of my own destiny." " A decree of abdication." " Abdication!" "?" "Please don't..." "Our troubles are not caused by Yuhuan." "How can I let her take the blame for me?" "As your subjects, It's our obligation to sacrifice our lives for our country." "Your Majesty!" "The Imperial Consort is loved by Your Majesty." "She should understand this." "Yuhuan's not my subject." "She's my love!" "I'll never betray her!" "Your Majesty..." "Dear Old Man." "You've been with His Majesty for 40 years, is that correct?" "48 years." "I wish I could accompany him for this long." "I've only been by His Majesty's side." "Your Majesty has been in His Majesty's heart, like a part of him." "Dear Old Man." "Please stand guard outside the residence." "Return to His Majesty in about one hour," "And... never leave his side again from then on," "will you?" "No, I won't." "You..." "You took poison?" "You told me... the wager of our love is life." "Longji..." "It hurts too much..." "Help me... help me." "It hurts too much..." "Help me..."