Senior,
remember.
No matter what happens
and no matter where you are,
my heart will always
belong to you.
Unfortunately,
You care too much, and are too gentle.
If you can let go of the shackle,
surely you'll be more extraordinary.
And only concentrated on your movements.
This is the essence of wielding a sword.
Eliminate all his distracting thoughts, and remain his pure mind.
From now on,
I'm a sword,
a sword that goes straight to the enemy and never returns.
Master,
junior,
I swear that
I'll never disappoint anyone again.
Father,
where did Jing go?
Why can't I find him everywhere?
I don't know.
Lan,
you can't find him today.
Will you vent your anger on me
because I treated him harshly
yesterday?
I'm so angry with you.
Why did you provoke him yesterday?
You were so strict with him.
Can't you empathize with him
about the pain of losing his beloved?
He's a man
rather than a kid.
Do you want me
to take care of him
as carefully as a child?
If I didn't provoke him and point out his errors
at that critical moment,
he might be finished for good.
You always have reason.
Are you worried about him?
Where's he?
Maybe he went to buy wine again.
If so,
he's just a good-for-nothing.
If such a man is finished for good,
you should ignore him.
What are you talking about?
He isn't a good-for-nothing.
I can't ignore him.
You…
Swordsman Ge.
Lan.
Jing.
You wear your hair loose. Let me help you.
No, thanks.
It doesn't matter whether it's kempt or not.
Right, Swordsman Ge?
Yes, indeed.
A swordsman doesn't need to stick to trifles.
Just forget
those complicated rules.
If you hadn't pointed out my errors yesterday,
I couldn't cheer up again.
Please accept my respects.
No need.
But I think
Lan may not get angry with me.
Father.
I got up to practice early in the morning.
I also bought some rice dumplings
in the town.
They're tasty. Eat them while they're hot.
It's so kind of you.
Mr. Tian Guang must be very pleased
if he sees that you're in such a good mood.
It's a pity that
I'll set out
before Mr. Tian Guang comes back.
Where will you go?
I want to travel around first
to find the true meaning of the poem
left by my master.
I wasted so much time
in frustration and depression
during this period of time,
so I need to make up for it quickly.
Swordsman Gongsun Yu's Swan Falling Swordsmanship
is the first swordsmanship throughout the current states,
but unfortunately it has been lost for many years.
If you can find it,
you'll definitely make further progress.
However,
it's dangerous for you to travel alone, Jing.
May I go with you?
Lan.
I still haven't had any clue
about this poem.
There must be a difficult
and time-consuming trip.
It'll be full of hardships all the way.
Are you sure you want to go with me?
Sure.
If you meet any difficulty on the way,
I can help you, okay?
But we still need to
discuss with your father.
I know her well.
It's impossible for me
to change her decision.
Surely I have to agree.
You're so kind, father.
Are the snacks I asked them to prepare to your taste?
Your Majesty, you've prepared various snacks for us
every time there's a tea banquet in Huayang Palace.
We all thank you for your favor.
In fact, I invited you here for something.
I feel the harem etiquette is neglected lately.
Some concubine ignored the laws and regulations of Qin palace and left the palace without permission.
Being busy with state affairs,
His Majesty just punished her lightly.
He also allowed her to compete with a general.
A concubine actually wielded a sword.
It's simply ridiculous.
Your Majesty, you're right.
It's extremely immoral for a concubine,
without her parents beside,
to go out and come back with other man.
But His Majesty favors Concubine Li
and tolerates her actions.
If it's spread,
our Qin harem will be laughed at by people throughout the states.
Your Highness,
you can't drink the tea
with a worm on the surface.
Of course, I won't drink it.
The harem is like
this cup of tea.
A worm stains the entire harem.
If someone isn't regulated effectively,
it will destroy the whole harem and cause pernicious consequences.
Your Majesty, am I right?
I've had my own standard in harem regulation.
I won't punish those
who follow the rules and perform their duties in ordinary days.
And I won't spare
those arrogant and unmoral palace women.
If you live with a lame person, you will learn to limp.
Ruo made it very clear just now.
I don't need to remind you
who you should get close to and who you should keep away from
when staying in the palace later.
Yes, I see.
Him.
Your Majesty, what else do you want to do?
Nothing.
Qing, send His Majesty back to his palace.
I'm tired and want to go to bed.
Yes.
No need.
I'll stay here tonight.
How can you stay here?
How can't I?
Qing, let me ask you.
Whose palace is this?
Your Majesty's.
Let me ask you again.
Is there any problem
if I want to sleep in any concubine's palace?
No.
Then I'll sleep in Zhaode Palace tonight.
Can I?
Sure.
Listen.
Even a maid
knows that.
Why don't you know it?
Qing, you can leave.
Yes.
What exactly do you want to do?
You know, I dislike beating around the bush.
It's been a year since you entered the palace.
You and I haven't become a real couple.
That's my respect for you.
I want you now.
Can I?
You still like biting people.
You said you would respect me.
It's because I can do nothing to you.
I can't control my love for you.
If you refuse to sleep with me tonight,
I'll come again tomorrow.
I will definitely wait until the day
when you are willing to sleep with me.
Good night.
Your Majesty, you visit me
not just for playing chess with me
today, right?
I just want to find someone to talk.
Some make me
terribly upset,
and some
make me unable to fall asleep.
When staying with you,
I feel completely relaxed.
So
I'm neither specially favored
nor hated by you.
It's also a kind of praise
for me.
Mindai,
you're as bighearted
as before.
I'm not bighearted
but well versed in the way of surviving in the harem.
In this harem,
there're numerous concubines.
Each is vying for Your Majesty's favor.
The more fiercely one vies for Your Majesty's favor, the stronger her desire
and the easier she will fall down.
When she wants everything,
she's easy to get caught and be eliminated by others by chance.
One can be austere if he has no selfish desires.
You who don't vie for anything
can gain what you want.
Let me speak to you frankly.
I led armed forces to suppress Zhao
in the name of saving Yan.
I didn't expect that your father would be extremely annoyed and pass away later.
I wonder whether
you resented me.
I'm married to you,
so I no longer care about my mother country.
I usually grow flowers in my palace
and don't care about any state affairs.
So I have no reason to resent you.
To be honest,
I didn't expect
Zhao Qian's succession to the throne.
I always think
Prince Jia is clever, studious,
and extraordinary in intelligence and determination.
It would be a blessing for Zhao
if he took the throne.
However,
Zhao Qian's mother was deeply favored by the late king.
He is actually no match for Prince Jia
in both political competency
and military achievements.
I remember when I was a child,
Qian often told me that
you were his favorite girl.
He also said whether he was crowned or not,
you would be his favorite concubine.
I was quite surprised at
your decision of marrying into Qin.
Qian is
frivolous
and arrogant.
So please don't take what he said
to heart.
All kings have had numerous women since ancient times,
so whether I married into Qin or stayed in Zhao
makes no difference.
This is also true.
You're just here to relax yourself.
I think
we'd better go on with our game.
Okay.
Your Highness,
I'm scared.
What are you scared of?
I'm scared that His Majesty will come again tonight.
Surely he'll come.
Your Highness,
with all my due respect,
I think what His Majesty said last night makes sense.
This is his palace.
All the concubines and ladies in the harem are his women,
including you.
Your Highness, you're not his match.
Please don't go against him.
Okay, Qing, I'll take your advice.
I won't go against him.
Then I'll rest assured.
I'm here as scheduled.
Are you ready?
You look so pretty today.
I said
I would wait until the day
when you are willing to sleep with me.
So are you willing
to sleep with me today?
What do you think?
I guess
you want to perish with me.
You're going to first kill me
and then commit suicide.
But have you ever
considered Tianming?
I have.
So I already ordered people to send him out of the palace.
When?
Why don't I know it?
The fewer people know about this, the better.
Tianming was kidnapped in the palace
a few days ago.
The true culprit has not been found yet.
I'm worried, so I ordered people to send him out of the palace.
I'm protecting him.
That's what you say!
Actually, he has been taken hostage by you.
Because you know if you hide him,
I won't leave you.
You're right.
I did this for you.
I just want
to keep you.
Don't worry.
I won't hide Tianming forever.
I'll order people to bring him back after some time,
so that you can meet again.
Are you threatening me with him?
I'm not.
I'm protecting you and Tianming.
Princes of the seven-state vassals
are often taken hostage in other states.
It's the same case.
You're just treating me like a country in battle?
It's because I want to keep you,
have you,
and win your love.
It's a bit like my eagerness to conquer the six states.
Don't worry.
I won't hurt Tianming.
He's my son,
so I'll protect him.
And only I can
protect him.
The hairpin
is used to tie your hair.
You can leave.
Your Majesty,
I think Concubine Li is so presumptuous.
With respect,
I think His Majesty dotes on Concubine Li too much.
Think about it.
If Han Shen is really
her senior,
it shows that they collaborated with each other to deceive His Majesty.
The crime of deceiving His Majesty is mortal.
In addition,
she also gave unprincipled protection to Han Shen before His Majesty.
No one knows
if they are really senior and junior.
Even if they're,
no one knows whether there was an affair between them
before they entered the palace.
It's possible for a woman born of humble origin like her
to have an affair with other man.
Yes, what you said makes sense.
Concubine Li is such an insensitive
and unruly wild woman.
And His Majesty didn't punish her at all.
I really can't take the aggravation.
Please uphold justice for me.
Ruo, calm down.
It'll be His Majesty's birthday banquet soon.
According to the rules,
concubines usually dance to celebrate His Majesty's birthday
at the banquet every year.
By then,
I have a way to deal with her.
Do you really have a good way
to punish that slut seriously?
Your Majesty, please punish me
for leaving the palace without permission
and disturbing the harem.
I'd like
to bear any punishment.
I won't punish you
but hope that
you can promise me something.
Your Majesty, please go ahead.
It'll be lunar January soon.
His Majesty's birthday banquet is drawing near in a few days.
In previous years,
the Director of the Music Bureau usually played several pieces of music.
Some girls good at dancing were chosen
to dance to celebrate His Majesty's birthday.
His Majesty was upset
about your leaving the palace.
Some rumors from other concubines and ladies about you
are indeed intolerable to the ear.
What can I do for you?
You're such a clever woman.
I have an idea.
Why not dance in a marvelous costume
at His Majesty's birthday banquet?
He'll surely be filled with joy.
Perhaps it can quell the harem rumors
and kill two birds with one stone.
But I'm not good at dancing.
And His Majesty's birthday banquet is such an important occasion.
I'm afraid that
my poor dancing may cast a damp over the banquet.
Don't worry.
I know you, born of a martial arts family,
are not good at women's skills.
We Qin people have always advocated martial arts.
Why not compose the swordsmanship movements you're good at
into a dance?
Such a novel dance
must be favored by His Majesty.
Okay. I promise.
With respect,
I hope that you can reward me.
As long as you promise to dance,
I'll give you whatever you want.
Gold, silver and bronze wares or silk or coral?
I don't want
these worldly possessions.
Then what do you want?
I just hope that
you can secure Tianming all his life.
The Qin palace is the safest place
in the world.
Prince Tianming is His Majesty's legitimate son.
What else do you want?
When I was pregnant,
someone added motherwort and croton seeds to my food
so as to abort my child.
Afterwards, Tianming was kidnapped for several days
and almost sent out of the palace.
The culprit in these two incidents
hasn't been found out so far.
This indicates that
our palace isn't safe at all.
His Majesty already sent Tianming out of the palace
in view of the dangers in the palace.
I can only see him several times
in a month.
If it's really for his good,
I'd like to endure the pain of missing him.
I was born of a mediocre family.
Even if I die in this palace one day,
I will have no regrets or grievances.
But Tianming is the prince of Qin.
I only hope that
if someone dares
to hurt him,
please protect him.
Don't worry.
I promise that
as long as I am alive
in the Qin palace for one day,
I'll severely punish those
who dare to hurt him.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Junior,
you and I left the palace without permission.
Her Majesty didn't punish you
but asked you to dance at His Majesty's birthday banquet.
It goes against the convention.
I'm worried that there's a trap.
I just need to dance by then.
What else can they do?
And
I've reached an agreement with Her Majesty.
As long as I agree to dance at His Majesty's birthday banquet,
she can secure Tianming.
Anyone who dares to hurt Tianming later
will be punished severely by her.
It's a cost-effective transaction,
so I'd like to try.
You try hard to secure Tianming,
but who can secure you?
Senior Han, don't worry.
Concubine Mindai's music is so beautiful and moving.
It's simply unparalleled.
Right, Your Majesty?
Yes.
I also feel it quite good.
Happy birthday, Your Majesty.
Next it's a dance from Her Highness Concubine Li.
She who carries a sword to the palace brazenly
will be charged with rebellion.
My armed guards will appear in the hall
under my order.
No one can stop them.
Apparently,
they come to ensure my safety.
In fact,
they target at Concubine Li.
Wanton.
Protect His Majesty.
Protect His Majesty.
Li Zhong, protect His Majesty. Quickly.
Your Highness. Your Highness.
Your Majesty, please accept my respects.
Cut the cackle. Treat her right now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Please wake up.
Palace doctor.
Your Majesty,
Han Shen was sent to the Academy of Medicine for treatment.
He's heavily wounded.
Tell me
why there was such a plot to assassinate me
in the hall today.
Why did a group of guards rush out
when Concubine Li hit the ball?
As far as I know,
they are guards of Huayang Palace.
They came to the hall to protect Her Majesty Great Empress Dowager Huayang.
What about the assassin?
I'm investigating her background.
Our palace was so carelessly guarded
that the assassin dared to kill people in the hall.
Your Majesty, calm down.
I'll thoroughly investigate this matter
and then report to you.
Li Zhong,
did you hurt Concubine Li
because you thought
she meant to kill me?
Li,
you woke up.
Did you have a nightmare?
I didn't know when
I fell asleep beside you.
Li, you know I've always slept alone.
I've never fallen asleep beside others.
You're my wife.
You're sick now,
so it's my duty to take care of you.
How dare you catch my guards
before me?
Then first kill me.
Imperial guards, listen up.
Yes.
Arrest them.
Yes.
Be good. Take the medicine.
Grandma, do you remember
I once said
I wanted to choose an extraordinary woman like the Queen of King of the Shang Dynasty
to be my queen.
I remember it.
Concubine Li has civil and military skills and a broad field of vision,
so I decide
to make her my queen.