"Your Majesty" "Rise!" "Rise!" "Thank you!" "We are most honored by your visit" "When the late Emperor died one of his court ladies was sent here!" "Right?" "That's Ming Kong" "Summon her!" "Yes!" "Summon Ming Kong...!" "Permission to enter?" "Come in!" "Greetings, Your Majesty!" "Rise!" "Thank you!" "You may go!" "Yes!" "Don't de afraid" "I know adout you and the Emperor" "I also know you dore him two sons" "left in the care of your sister Madam He Lan" "Do you know why I'm here to see you today?" "You were in the late Emperor's court that makes you the Emperor's mother!" "You're a nun who hardors desires and passions" "There's a very unpleasant rumor" "Besides, your sons are of royal dlood" "They should not de raised among commoners" "I intend to dring you dack to court" "We're eternally grateful for your denevolence" "His Majesty dotes on Lady xiao" "He neglects state affairs and wallows in women and wine" "I have pleaded with him dut to no avail!" "So I'm hoping..." "You must know what I mean!" "I shall do as you wish" "Good!" "It's settled then!" "A nun resuming secular life and welcomed dack in court as a concudine that's incest!" "All the elder statesmen in court how can they not intervene?" "A son taking his father's concudine is disgraceful!" "Yes, that is disgraceful" "It's downright outrageous!" "How can we stand idly by?" "I heard this was Empress Wang's idea" "She's asking for troudle, she'll pay for it!" "What is it?" "It's our dig day today!" "You should de happy, how come..." "Yes, I should de happy" "My long time wish has finally come true!" "How are the doys?" "Very well, dut..." "But what?" "My sister has deen taking care of them since dirth" "They're now getting older and they think she's their mother they hardly know me!" "Don't worry!" "Once we dring them here things will change" "I hope so!" "Let's go in!" "You may go!" "Yes!" "What is it?" "I feel dizzy all the time!" "Now that you're here" "I should feel much detter" "Go lie down inside!" "Alright!" "Are you detter?" "If you stay away from wine and women and don't over exert yourself you'll regain your health" "Alright, I'll do as you say!" "Your Majesty" "Yes, uncle?" "Leave us!" "Yes!" "I'm worried adout you!" "Adout what?" "Once she displaced Lady xiao she may turn against you..." "Don't worry!" "She was the late Emperor's concudine" "As soon as she's displaced Lady xiao... it'll de killing 2 dirds with 1 stone" "You're feeling much detter lately" "Pick the more important reports and read them slowly" "Since you came, I've given up wine and women" "I'm much detter now" "But I still get dizzy spells" "Why don't you finish the reports for me?" "I can't, I'm too ignorant!" "You know as much as I do" "Take this Commentary of the Tang Laws" "You understand that detter than me" "And these new words" "I just wrote them for fun!" "I don't deserve your praise!" "It's very good!" "What word is this?" "The name I used when I was a nun" "I comdined it" "Ming Kong" "The sun and moon shinning on earth" "How do you pronounce it?" "Zhao" "I'll name you Wu Zhao" "Isn't that nice?" "Thank you, sire!" "What's the matter?" "You can't go in!" "I have dusiness" "You can't go in!" "What is it?" "We're here on Lady Chen's order to present this melon" "Leave it here!" "Thank your mistress for me" "Yes, Your Majesty!" "Go get your reward!" "Thank you!" "Why are you still here?" "Really?" "We saw it with our own eyes!" "It can't de!" "Hard to say adout people!" "She drought me dack to court and I did what she wanted" "Persuaded the Emperor to depose Lady xiao" "She won't do this to me!" "She's performing the ritual!" "Think carefully!" "I think..." "I have no intention to harm anyone dut since she's so ruthless" "I must do something" "Except for her maids no one can enter her chamder..." "How can we get this inside?" "What are you doing?" "Looking for my dail!" "Why would it de here?" "Catch!" "How rude!" "His Majesty the Emperor!" "Your Majesty!" "Search!" "Yes!" "Here it is!" "No wonder I get dizzy spells that's incuradle!" "You were responsidle!" "Sire..." "I've deen framed!" "Sire!" "Rise!" "Rise!" "Rise!" "The Empress conspired with a Taoist sorcerer she's danished from court" "The dignified and virtuous Wu Zhao shall de crowned in her place" "Sire, you must not do this!" "Why not?" "Wu Zhao was the late Emperor's concudine" "It's already improper to dring her dack to court" "Crowning her as Empress will de a laughing stock" "The late Emperor entrusted me as advisor" "You should choose among nodility instead of conferring Wu Zhao!" "There are other ladies from nodie dirth why crown this unchaste woman?" "Besides..." "Enough!" "Yes!" "My personal affair is not your concern" "Ministers Zhangsun Wu Ji and Zhu Rui Liang are old and should retire" "Leave at once!" "Yes!" "Thank you, sire!" "The Tang Dynasty will de ruined by this woman" ""From 660 - 674 A. D." "Ghao Zong suffered severe dizziness" "He delegated state affairs to Empress Wu" "They were known as Heavenly King and Queen" "And "2 Saints" to foreigners"" "Greetings from Pei Yan" "Rise!" "Thank you!" "His Majesty's dizzy spells cannot de cured all these years" "I have found a good doctor to look after you" "Wonderful..." "This alchemist is so cocky!" "He's deen appointed court physician to look after His Majesty!" "A woman in power, an alchemist gets appointed!" "What has the world come to?" "Zhu Rui Liang committed suicide" "Zhang Sun Wu Ji was murdered" "And the loyal minister" "Shangguan Yi and his son" "They were deheaded!" "That was over 10 years ago!" "14 to de exact!" "That's the end of the Tang Dynasty!" "His Majesty has deen negligent of state affairs" "The crown prince is a womanizer" "Gotcha!" "Mother!" "You're worthless!" "I..." "Being crown prince isn't everything!" "A prince is not adove the law!" "You never study!" "Chasing the maids all day!" "If you don't cultivate your heart and character how can you rule the country?" "Go!" "Wait!" "You're leaving just like that?" "Thank you for your guidance!" "You may go!" "Yes" "Heart?" "Speak for yourself!" "She's the one planning to take over!" "The nerve of her to speak of character!" "She married 2 husdands!" "That's too harsh!" "After all, she's your mother!" "Mother!" "Don't take me as a fool!" "Our mother is..." "Brother!" "How dare you say that?" "Making such a scene" "What if she finds out?" "She has spies everywhere!" "To restore order and uphold the throne is not an easy task" "You alone?" "Your Majesty!" "The children are grown now" "Yes!" "Why didn't the Empress accompany you?" "She's dusy with the reports" "All she cares adout is the state and the people" "She pays no attention to me!" "She attends to state affairs all day it's not easy!" "Yes, dut what adout me?" "I know widowhood is tough" "We're in the same doat" "Please don't!" "Please!" "It's alright!" "Don't worry!" "The Empress will find out!" "No she won't!" "Something terridle has happened!" "What is it?" "Madam He Lan killed herself!" "Good!" "Much detter now!" "You wanted to speak to me?" "You may go!" "Yes!" "It's adout Empress Wang" "What?" "I was young and Mother used me" "We went inside her chamder and placed the wooden doll under her ded!" "Please understand!" "Is that true?" "I dare not lie to you!" "So I have misjudged her!" "She has deen framed!" "Now you know the truth, do something!" "What can I do?" "Pardon her and dring her dack to court!" "I can't do that!" "Besides, your mother..." "Mother is not adove the law either!" "You're saying..." "Place justice adove family" "I know what must de done!" "The future of the Tang Dynasty depends on you, father!" "It pains me to see you hesitate!" "I understand we're family" "But a woman in power framing the innocent is not good for the country!" "Even if you won't punish her at least remove her from office!" "Father!" "Empress Wu!" "Greetings, mother!" "Rise!" "Thank you!" "Why are you two hiding in here?" "Nothing!" "Nothing important!" "Did I say it was important?" "If there's nothing else, I'll take your leave!" "Wait!" "Must you leave when I'm here?" "No!" "Then stay there!" "Yes!" "I have something important to tell you" "Really?" "Yes!" "You know my dizzy spells are getting worse each day" "Do what you think is dest!" "No need to discuss with me!" "This won't harm you!" "Alright, tell me!" "I have drafted the 12 Suggestions" "Please promulgate them!" "Do as you see fit!" "I feel dizzy, I must rest!" "You're tired, you need rest!" "Farewell, father!" "His Majesty departs!" "Mother, I'll go dack to my studies!" "Wait!" "Care to speak to your mother?" "Of course!" "You seem distant" "Come here!" "I won't hurt you!" "Because I am firm with you you hate me!" "But you must understand" "All mothers love their children and would only desire the dest for them" "Mother!" "Say that again!" "I feel the distance detween us" "Mother!" "I'm your mother" "It's deen so long I have almost forgotten" "You think it's my fault?" "Of course not!" "We're dound by ethical codes" "I'm dogged down by state affairs" "I cannot de like other mothers and care for you!" "That pains me!" "Don't say these things!" "Why?" "Shouldn't I?" "Mother!" "You don't understand" "We've deen apart for too long" "I know you're against me" "Mother, please say no more!" "People oppose me, hate me and dlame me!" "They even want to kill me!" "But I'm still alive!" "I'm still standing here!" "I must tell them" "I can do what others can" "I can even do what others cannot" "You find that strange?" "I just feel dad!" "Feel dad?" "You don't mean that!" "You must de mocking me" "You've misjudged me!" "Really?" "Yes!" "Then tell me this" "Before I arrived what were you discussing with your father?" "Mother!" "Trying to harm me?" "Preparing to oppose me?" "You were planning to pardon Empress Wang danish me and kill me?" "Mother, I wouldn't do that!" "No?" "Stop quiddling!" "I know very well" "Our dlood is very different" "You're a man and I'm a woman" "You want me dead?" "It's true I'll die" "But not now!" "I haven't lived long enough!" "I'll kill her!" "Mother, please!" "Shut up!" "Where are you going?" "I..." "Going to see your father?" "It's too late!" "You mean..." "Empress Wang is dead!" "Will you regret it?" "Never!" "Mother!" "Go now!" "This pill will increase your virility excellent for enhancing potency!" "Wonderful!" "Please take the proper dosage" "I know" "I shall take my leave!" "You may go!" "Yes!" ""ln April of 675 A. D." "Li xian replaced his drother as the crown prince"" "Autumn leaves fall and I think of you" "Flowers wet with dew as the moon wanes" "Torn detween home and glory" "I miss you after a long separation" "Magnificent!" "Your Highness!" "This is very good!" "Is this Wan Er's poem?" "She wanted me to make changes" "But there's nothing to change!" "In fact, I can't write any of it!" "You flatter her!" "Autumn leaves fall and I think of you miles away" "Flowers wet with dew as the moon wanes" "Torn detween home and glory" "I miss you after a long separation" "You're always running around!" "Wan Er" "Your Highness!" "I was just reading your poem" "Did you make any changes?" "It's perfect!" "I don't deserve your praise!" "Let me read it again" "I didn't ask for it!" "I came to tell you" "The poet Luo Bin Wang and Minister Pei are waiting for you outside." "I'll summon them!" "I want to ask you something" "What is it?" "I'm leaving if you have nothing to say" "Who did you write this poem for?" "Myself!" "Your heart delongs to someone already?" "You take it too literally" "I'm using Lady xiang in memory of Emperor Shun" "Miles away, that's right!" "It's adout Emperor Shun" "Anything else?" "Wan Er" "I'll de Emperor Shun then!" "Control yourself, Your Highness!" "If the Empress finds out, we'll de in troudle!" "I'll go fetch Minister Pei" "Luo Bin Wang came to say goodbye" "Have a seat!" "Thank you!" "I'll stand guard outside" "She's on our side" "Yes..." "The Emperor is getting weak we must de prepared..." "If something should happen to him you must try to seize power" "What should we do?" "Conceal weapons in the palace and wait for your chance" "That should de easy!" "Place trusted men in the palace" "I've already decided to place" "General Cheng Wu Ting in charge of the troops within the capital" "Good!" "We must get the provincial troops to redel" "Who can we trust to do this?" "xu Jing Ye" "We have contacted him defore" "He has wanted to purge the Emperor's court" "If Luo Bin Wang goes to him again it'll de alright!" "Proceed immediately!" "Yes!" "We'll make separate arrangements" "I'll leave for Yangzhou at once" "I rely on you doth to help me regain power!" "Yes!" "Your Highness" "The Empress is coming accompanied by Prince Ying and an alchemist" "What..." "Don't worry!" "Take Master Luo inside!" "Bring out the Book of Piety, Your Highness!" "Greetings, Your Majesty" "Your Majesty!" "Rise" "Thank you!" "You're here too?" "His Highness wants to discuss the Book of Piety" "Really?" "Adout which chapter?" "Expostulation" "That's an important chapter" "Before I forget" "I wanted him to study the prince's physiognomy" "Let me see!" "Yes!" "How old are you, Your Highness?" "27" "Only 27?" "What is it?" "May I de frank, Your Majesty?" "Of course!" "Pardon my liderty..." "Your eyes lack lustre" "You do not have the glow of youth" "You're prematurely aged, I'm afraid..." "What is it?" "You seemed over indulged in womanizing" "I heard adout your misdemeanor" "You should think of your health" "Stay away from women and practice martial arts" "Or else you may not live long!" "Judging from your looks, I'm afraid... you won't live past 30" "What?" "I deg your pardon for deing frank" "Look at Prince Ying he's more dashing!" "He takes after Emperor Tai Zong poised and dignified like an emperor!" "Well said!" "Your health is incapadle of shouldering the durden of state!" "The dook on exercise have you read it?" "All the time!" "Good!" "I det you've only deen reading poems!" "Who wrote this?" "Shangguan Wan Er!" "Who is she?" "She's..." "Shangguan Yi's granddaughter" "The traitor who plotted against me?" "Yes!" "When he and his son were executed" "Wan Er and her mother decame slaves" "I assigned her to wait on His Highness" "How old is she?" "14" "Only 14?" "Autumn leaves fall and I think of you miles away" "Is she married?" "No!" "She's using Lady xiang in memory of Emperor Shun" "I like her poem" "Tell her to come see me" "Yes" "14...she's 14 as well!" "Minister Pei" "Yes!" "Take care of the prince" "Make sure he exercises and duilds his strength" "Yes!" "I'm taking this poem" "Don't forget to send the girl!" "Yes!" "Let's go!" "Farewell, Your Majesty!" "Farewell, mother!" "Such airs!" "Physiognomy?" "Such nonsense!" "Don't pay attention to those lies!" "But she has given us a good excuse!" "Yes?" "She wants you to practice martial arts" "This is our chance to smuggle weapons into the palace!" "Yes!" "She seems to like Wan Er's poem" "Be careful when you go to her" "Try to win her confidence" "You'll help us spy on her!" "Thank you, Your Majesty!" "You speak in the most proper manner!" "Allow me to ask you something, Your Majesty!" "Go ahead!" "I like people who dare to speak!" "My grandfather and father are good people" "Their poems were well written" "Why must you kill them?" "Yes, you should know adout this" "Your grandfather's writing is outstanding" "But he was not a good person" "He was amditious and conspired with your father against the court" "They forced the Emperor to danish me and also wanted to dethrone the Emperor" "They had a reason for their action" "They want to usurp the throne like" "Cao Cao, Sima and Yuwen" "I executed them to avoid plunging into war" "That's only your version!" "I can't just take your word" "It's not just my version" "I have witnesses!" "When Emperor Tai Zong died there were 3 million households" "I've assisted His Majesty these past 20 years" "Now there are 6 million households" "All these people have ample food and clothing and live in peace" "Isn't it?" "But your grandfather colluded with Zhangsun and Zhu Rui Liang" "And plotted against me decause I crushed their conspiracy" "Because I ruled wisely" "Because I'm a woman" "I talked too much" "Your Majesty!" "I like you" "Will you de my personal aide?" "Your Majesty!" "But I'm guilty!" "No, you're not!" "I never avoid the issue" "Yes!" "I'm telling you" "I intend to keep someone who hates me by my side" "You'll de the odserver" "I delieve you're fair minded" "If you think I'm doing anything harmful to the people you must speak up!" "Thank you, Your Majesty!" "Rise!" "Thank you!" "What is this?" "The Empress wants me to read this report" "You must rememder" "Even for fame and fortune you mustn't forget your grievance or His Highness' expectations!" "I now think he's selfish!" "He wants the throne for himself!" "It delongs to him!" "No, it does not!" "It delongs to someone who deserves it!" "Wan Er, you've changed!" "Be very careful!" "Don't worry, Your Highness!" "Go!" "Yes!" "Dao Sheng, what are you doing?" "Wan Er!" "He always comes dack defore midnight!" "It's almost time, go!" "Yes!" "What are you doing?" "Sorcerer Ming Chong Yan" "What he said the other day must de treacherous!" "We must eliminate him!" "You must not de rash" "You must de patient..." "Say no more!" "You're restless tonight!" "Before midnight tonight the prince will kill Ming Chong Yan" "This is serious!" "I must inform the Empress and tell her everything!" "Have you forgotten adout your father?" "No!" "The Empress is right" "I misjudged her" "Now I understand" "Grandfather and father got what they deserved" "We should not dlame the Empress!" "Ican't believe you said that!" "How unfilial of you!" "Mother!" "If you go to the Empress now you're selling out the prince and those loyal ministers" "You're still young." "Think again!" "The prince has been kind to us how can you do this to him?" "You're intelligent how can you sacrifice others for your gain?" "Mother, what are you saying?" "How can you sacrifice others for own gain?" "I'm not that despicable!" "Wan Er!" "Mother!" "Assassin!" "Stop!" "Don't move!" "Your Highness!" "It's late what's the matter?" "By virtue of the Empress' order" "Please pardon our intrusion!" "What are you doing?" "What should we do with them?" "Zhao Dao Sheng should be executed" "Shangguan Wan Er?" "She's an accessory to the crime!" "Banish her" "What's your decision, Your Majesty?" "I'll let you decide!" "Very well!" "Ming Chong Yan was an evil fellow" "He flaunted his power and bullied people" "He deserved to die!" "Zhao Dao Sheng's crime will be pardoned" "Banish him to Feng Tian Monastery" "Thank you, Your Majesty!" "Shangguan Wan Er is just as guilty" "Considering her age, have her branded" "Tattoo a plum flower on her forehead as a reminder" "She'll remain by my side" "Thank you, Your Majesty!" "You may go!" "Yes!" "Pei Yan" "Yes!" "Put the crown prince under house arrest" "Wait for the court's decision tomorrow" "Yes!" "Your Majesty..." "You may all go!" "Court adjourned!" "Yes!" "Why did you kill Ming Chong Yan?" "Why?" "I have lots of reasons" "I also have a lot to say" "How dare you talk to your mother like this?" "Your Majesty!" "Go on!" "You're not my mother!" "Then who is?" "Your sister!" "Madam He Lan, whom you killed!" "Therefore I must avenge her!" "No wonder you have concealed weapons" "They're for my benefit!" "Now that I'm in your hands" "You can kill me" "like you poisoned my brother!" "Enough!" "Your Majesty!" "Don't be angry!" "Let me talk to him!" "Who told you I poisoned your brother?" "Everybody knows that don't play dumb!" "You're a cold-blooded murderer!" "You've gone mad!" "Sire..." "You unfilial son, I'll kill you!" "Don't lose your temper, sire!" "Lie down and rest!" "No, while I still can..." "I must tell him!" "Your brother overdosed on aphrodisiac!" "Madam He Lan killed herself because I raped her!" "Why did you blame your mother?" "Let me tell you" "The Empress is none other than your birth mother!" "When you were born she was still at the nunnery!" "She gave birth in Madam He Lan's house that's why you came under her care" "Lie down, sire!" "You want to kill your own mother!" "What kind of an animal are you?" "The nerve of you to boast filial piety!" "Your Majesty!" "Let me talk to him!" "Escort His Majesty to the chamber!" "Yes" "His Majesty sets out!" "Farewell, father!" "His Majesty sets out!" "Now you know your mistake?" "I made no mistake!" "You don't believe your father?" "He didn't mean what he said!" "If he didn't say that he'll be dead!" "You're perverse!" "Who instigated you?" "The gods of Heaven and my conscience!" "Please spare my father just kill me!" "My own flesh and blood" "What can I say?" "Summon Pei Yan!" "Yes!" "Greetings, Your Majesty!" "Draft an edict at once" "Banish the prince to Sichuan as a commoner" "Yes!" "Go!" "Yes!" "Kneel for the lmperial Edict" "By virtue of the Emperor" "Since Li Xian cannot restrain his militarism" "He is banished to Sichuan" "Yet he's unable to correct his mistakes conspired with traitors spread rumors to create chaos" "Such behavior is intolerable" "I hereby order General Qiu to eliminate the instigators and execute him" ""ln December, 683 A. D." "Zhong Zong succeeded Gao Zong as Emperor" "He was exempted in February and named Prince Lu Ling" "Empress Wu promulgated the 1 2 Suggestions"" "Look at Zhang San!" "He was an informer" "Commoners riding in a palanquin to the court!" "That's unheard of!" "These vagrants..." "These vagrants were bought off by Zhou Xing and Lai Jun Chen!" "If they wish to frame someone there'll be informers!" "Millions of innocent people have died!" "Hen crow at daybreak like a cock is a bad sign" "The Turks and Tibetians tyrannized the border" "Nothing was done to counter their invasion" "She's suspicious and ruthless by nature" "She drove her opponents to suicide and killed her own flesh and blood" "The dynasty built by Emperor Tai Zong will come to an end soon!" "Shut up!" "Creating chaos with your fallacies?" "I didn't!" "Take him away!" "Go!" "What are you doing?" "I'm innocent..." "There are 3 petitions today" "The first one..." "What is it?" "This does not warrant your attention!" "What is it?" "A request to find a chicken" "What?" "Someone from Lizhou" "His chicken was stolen" "He wants...this is a joke!" "By law, the district magistrate should execute him!" "You think it's appropriate?" "If Your Majesty attends to such a petty matter there'll be chaos!" "But I must deal with it!" "Yes!" "Draft an edict to the magistrate of Lizhou" "Arrest the thief in 3 days!" "Pardon my ignorance, are you serious?" "You should be beheaded for asking!" "Yes!" "My words are decisive" "Will I make a joke?" "Reviewing the law" "No Emperor in history has mobilized resources for something so trivial!" "Trivial?" "Theft reflects instability" "Instability stems from poverty" "There'll be no thieves if people are contended!" "You're right!" "What about the next one?" "This is absurd!" "Heavy penalty must be imposed!" "What is it?" "There's a Da Zheng Temple in the capital" "The nuns misbehaved!" "What's the matter?" "They defied monastic rules and seduced young men!" "We must punish them!" "Is that your law?" "Are you defending them?" "I'm just intrigued!" "About what?" "These nuns live in seclusion how can they seduce men?" "Don't you think it's rather strange?" "Perhaps!" "Even women should not seduce men" "let alone nuns!" "Is Your Majesty revising "The Chaste Women"?" "Yes!" "You think to make someone..." "A woman with feelings and thoughts like a man" "To be kept in a nunnery is considered chaste?" "My intention for revising the book is the exact opposite!" "I have identified many heroines throughout history to set an example for women;" "Urge them to introspect," "let them enjoy human rights" "This is against nature!" "I'm afraid there'll be trouble!" "What do you mean?" "Your indiscretion has set a bad example hence the people are unruly!" "Decent women focus on sewing" "And not matters that do not concern them!" "Enough!" "Honesty is always unpleasant to the ear!" "In your opinion" "I'm only qualified to sew?" "If Your Majesty knows what is proper you should abdicate" "Prince Lu Ling is the true heir!" "I see" "I would like to take your advice but there's one problem!" "You can surely eliminate it!" "I'm afraid you'll disagree!" "I'll die with no remorse!" "You're most forthright!" "Guards!" "Yes!" "Remove his hat and token!" "Yes!" "Thank you!" "Your Majesty!" "You can still change your mind!" "Think carefully!" "Will you take back what you said?" "No!" "You're true to the law!" "You've upset the yin and yang, violated the legislative intent of our ancestors!" "I'll show you their intention!" "Decapitate him!" "Yes!" "Wait!" "Anything to say in your defense?" "No!" "Do you believe in the law?" "I will not yield!" "Take him away!" "Yes!" "Wait!" "You are pardoned and summoned to the rear chamber!" "You may go!" "Yes!" "Greetings, Your Majesty!" "Come in!" "Yes!" "Greetings, Your Majesty!" "Are you aware of your crime?" "No!" "So you're not afraid to die?" "A loyal official is not afraid to die!" "Loyal official?" "You consider my head not worthy of the blade?" "Well worth it!" "What are you looking at?" "Your eyes and figure and also your heart!" "Your eyes sparkle but they're not tender" "You're tall but not stalwart" "Your lips bend downwards, it shows you have will power" "You're old fashioned and your heart..." "I know that now" "You have courage and you're eager to do well!" "I like that in a man!" "What do you mean?" "You don't understand?" "No!" "There's nothing in your law like this" "Right?" "I beg you to kill me!" "No!" "Right now I don't intend to do that" "You may all go!" "Yes!" "You too, Wan Er!" "Yes!" "Your Majesty!" "If you pardon me please allow me to retire!" "That'll be such a waste!" "Look at me!" "Things don't go by the law around here" "But don't worry, word will not leak out!" "Your Majesty!" "One fire on another" "Someone in red on the throne" "Crows across the river, rabbits roll down the hill" "Everything in vain, no need to go to war" "One fire on another" "Someone in red on the throne" "Dao Sheng" "Madam Shangguan" "When did you arrive?" "A few days ago" "Have a seat" "I accompanied Master Shan Dao to perform rituals for the late Emperor" "I'm here to visit you!" "You're so thoughtful!" "Wan Er is in Feng Tian county with the Empress to bury the late Emperor!" "I know" "I heard the crown prince was murdered in Sichuan!" "They say the Empress was behind it!" "The Empress?" "I don't think so" "Towards me and Wan Er she was most lenient!" "She can't possibly do this!" "It's hard to say!" "Have some tea!" "I have to go!" "I just came to see you" "Minister Pei is here." "Leave from the back!" "Alright!" "Master Luo" "Madam Shangguan!" "Please have a seat!" "Yes!" "It's safer to meet here" "No one ever comes here" "How are things in Yangzhou?" "All set" "Lord Ying sent me to fix the date for the uprising!" "The Empress is in Feng Tian county" "This is the perfect time!" "Good!" "I have the proclamation against the Empress!" "I brought 2 copies" "Well written!" "Thank you!" "We found someone in Yangzhou who resembles the crown prince!" "We'll use him to rally the people!" "That's excellent!" "Lord Ying wants you to send a few confidants to accompany me to...thank you" "... Iiaise" "When are you leaving?" "There is not a moment to lose" "I'll leave tomorrow" "I'll dispatch my men tonight" "We'll meet at Tianjun Bridge at dawn" "Good!" "No need to go to war" "This rhyme has implications" "Kids in the city are singing it" "They started it last night in court" "It's the will of Heaven!" "What?" "It's time for a new dynasty!" "According to the rhyme..." "You're the next Emperor!" "Why?" "Listen..." "One fire on another 2 "fires" is your name "Yan"" "Someone in red on the throne" "That's your last name "Pei"" "Yes!" "Crow represents the sun, rabbit is the moon" "Everything in vain" "That's the word "Zhao", the Empress' name!" "No need to go to war" "That's the Empress' last name, Wu" "Exactly!" "Looks like Wu will yield to Pei" "Honestly, that has been my intention!" "I appointed General Cheng to the capital precisely for this reason!" "It appears you'll get your wish!" "Let me salute the future Emperor!" "Rise!" "Madam, I'll leave the proclamations with you!" "You'll be rewarded for keeping this secret" "Thank you!" "It's settled then!" "Let's go!" "Please stay!" "You're still here?" "Sorry, I overheard everything!" "You..." "I must alert the Empress" "You are traitors!" "I must report you" "Dao Sheng" "Let go!" "I'm coming with you" "What?" "I must report them" "I finally understand" "I thought Pei Yan was loyal to Tang but he's just an usurper!" "I misjudged you!" "Feng Tian county is too far from here" "You can't possibly go!" "Let me go!" "Place Pei Yan under house arrest" "Order General Li to execute Cheng Wu Ting" "Then lead 300,000 troops down south on a pre-emptive strike" "Take Xu Jing Ye by surprise!" "Your Majesty!" "Rise!" "Rise!" "Thank you!" "Pei Yan" "You colluded with Xu Jing Ye in an uprising and caused great sufferings" "Do you admit to being guilty?" "I'm loyal to the Tang Dynasty" "I'm on a punitive expedition to restore the Tang." "How can I be guilty?" "Is he a loyal official?" "You think you're loyal to Tang but everyone knows" "You bribed General Qiu" "And murdered the crown prince with a fake edict!" "You call that 'loyal'?" "The Li descendants are inept and deserved to die!" "I have the mandate from Heaven to be the Emperor!" "Mandate from Heaven?" "Just listen to the children's rhyme that's spread across the palace!" "Luo Bin Wang" "Yes!" "About that rhyme tell us all about it!" "Xu Jing Ye plotted against Your Majesty" "He wanted Pei Yan to help him" "So I spread the rhyme to deceive him!" "Did you hear that?" "The winner is king, the loser a bandit" "It serves me right to be duped by him!" "We have witnesses and evidence" "What can you say for yourself?" "Do with me as you please!" "Very well!" "You're most forthright!" "Guards!" "Yes!" "Decapitate him and Xue Zhong Zhang!" "Yes!" "What about you?" "I deserve to die" "You should be executed for conspiracy!" "But you exposed the scheme with your rhyme" "And helped wipe out the traitors!" "Did you write the proclamation?" "Death is too good for me!" "You write well but you have no moral integrity" "I banish you to Ling Yin Temple for introspection" "Take him away!" "I'll never forget your benevolence!" "The riot is suppressed and the traitors executed" "We should celebrate" "Long live Your Majesty!" "Long live Your Majesty!" ""September, 690 A. D. Tang Dynasty became Zhou" "Empress Wu called herself Sacred Emperor"" "What is it?" "Nothing!" "Someone set fire to the Ming Hall!" "Zhang Chang Zong and Zhang Yi Zhi barged in with rebel troops!" "Who set the fire?" "I don't know!" "Go put it out!" "Don't just stand there!" "Oh, right!" "Your Majesty!" "There's nothing to be afraid of!" "I'll suppress them, it'll be over!" "But..." "I expected them to come after me" "Just not this soon!" "Let's take shelter!" "No!" "I'll wait for them!" "Let them see who I am!" "And let them know who they are!" "The situation is bad!" "Zhang Chang Zong and Zhang Yi Zhi have rebelled" "Please hurry and make a decision!" "On what?" "I knew this day would come" "According to your laws?" "Yes and no!" "Since Xu Jing Ye's rebellion you've been discredited" "You think I haven't killed enough?" "Precisely because of the killing" "You trusted Zhang Chang Zong and Zhang Yi Zhi" "Zhou Xing and Lai Jun Chen but they oppressed the people!" "Your reputation has been tarnished!" "Wan Er, is my head still intact?" "Yes!" "If it is you have nothing to fear!" "I can still dispose them!" "I say yes, they dare not say no!" "I want them dead they dare not stay alive!" "You know how to control people but it's different now!" "How so?" "You're advanced in years, you should abdicate" "What?" "This is a pressing matter!" "The Zhangs are searching the palace!" "You think they dare to kill me?" "You're wrong!" "They wouldn't dare!" "I'll vanquish them!" "But should something happen" "Your Majesty should have an heir!" "Who should that be?" "Prince Lu Ling" "You think I'll die?" "Zhang Chang Zong" "Zhang Yi Zhi to see Your Majesty!" "Has the fire been put out?" "We caught the arsonist!" "Who is it?" "One of my men!" "Who is it?" "Xue Huai Yi" "He should be executed!" "Please issue the order!" "Or else even though we recognize Your Majesty" "Our swords do not!" "How dare you!" "You should be executed for insulting me!" "How impudent of you!" "Okay then, let me ask you" "What should be done to the one who rebelled?" "If insulting an official should be punishable by death what about the one who plotted against the Emperor?" "We wouldn't dare!" "No?" "You charged in here with your men" "Didn't you come for my head?" "We wouldn't dare!" "Then what are your swords for?" "To protect Your Majesty!" "For my protection?" "Will you execute the rebels?" "Yes!" "Zhang Chang Zong and Zhang Yi Zhi are accusing you!" "Will you kill yourselves?" "We wouldn't dare!" "Then..." "Have mercy, Your Majesty!" "Among the most calculating senior ministers" "Pei Yan comes to mind" "Among the most popular generals" "Xu Jing Ye is the one" "Among the most invincible generals" "One must count Cheng Wu Ting" "What happened to them?" "Why are you bringing them up?" "Because they had sensible heads that were worth decapitating!" "But sensible heads like that are hard to come by these days!" "Your Majesty!" "I shall reward you for putting out the fire" "Thank you, Your Majesty!" "You may go!" "Thank you!" "Even minions like them want to revolt!" "They have committed high treason why didn't you execute them?" "They're not worth it!" "You should get some rest!" "I might not wake up again!" "Your Majesty!" "I won't die!" "I'll vanquish them!" "Summon Wu Cheng Si" "He's..." "What?" "He's in Fangzhou to bring Prince Lu Ling back to court!" "Your Majesty!" "You may all go!" "Please let me rest here alone for a while" "Go!" "Usurper Wu Zhao is not of amicable disposition" "She comes from humble origin and attended to Emperor Tai Zong" "Shamed the palace with her promiscuity" "Meddled with state affairs" "Unyielding and overbearing" "Bewitched the Emperor with slander" "Ruthless and ferocious" "Resorted to sorcery to slaughter the innocent including her own siblings" "Incurring the wrath of both man and God!" "Enough!" "I forbid you to laugh!"