Although Prince Zhu Di of Yan was appointed as a prince, he was stationed in the north to guard Yan territory. He has shown amazing perseverance and courage since childhood, and is the most outstanding among his brothers, but he missed the crown prince position because he is not the eldest son. After the unexpected death of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang established his grandson Zhu Yunwen. Zhu Di was forced to retreat by the fiefdoms and had no choice but to rise up in rebellion. After the four-year Jingnan Campaign, he finally took control of the capital. Zhu Di had the world, but he carried eternal fame and lost his beloved in his heart. Zhu Di used the latter half of his life's hard work to rewrite the history of the Ming Dynasty, built the Forbidden City, relocated the capital to Beijing, and launched five expeditions to the northern desert, compiling the "Yongle Encyclopedia" and dispatching Zheng He to the West, achieving immortal achievements. He passed away on his triumphant return journey during his last expedition to the north.
Your Majesty, you have made a major mistake.
Lords of vassal states
want to come to the capital of Ming for funeral
to fulfill their filial piety as sons.
There's nothing wrong with them.
But your Majesty
you do not allow them to do it.
At present, what you have done has
become your vulnerable point.
Once they are irritated
to come here to take accountability for your mistake
you will become a target of public criticism.
You hit the nail on the head
Lord Yan refused to take the imperial edict.
Now
he has been leading his army to the capital.
Your Majesty!
It’s just a trick of Child
How can it cheat Lord Yan?
I have no such experience on it.
I just misheard their idea.
Anyway
it’s your decision
so, it should count on you.
And your Majesty, you wrote the false will
If what you have done was seen through
how could you keep a foothold in the court?
But I have no idea
how to be an emperor.
I just want to be
an ordinary man of letters.
I just wanted to make sure
that grandpa's funeral
was handled smoothly
and nothing bad to happened.
But I didn’t expect
such a thing could have happened.
You screwed it up.
I heard Lord Yan is coming for mourning
then I sent Li Jinglong to dissuade him.
In the north of the Yangtze River
he met Lord Yan.
After that he gave this letter written in Lord Yan's own blood to me.
Wordship Xiao Ling Tomb!
Lord Yan was determined to
lead his army to the capital.
He come to the capital
is not to worship Xiao Ling Tomb
but to make a punitive expedition
against me.
Your Majesty! Taking into account love and ceremony
There’s nothing wrong with Lord Yan coming for mourning.
If he goes with an army to punish you for your mistake
Once again, there’s nothing wrong with him.
My aunt.
I trust you most
Can you come up with
a good idea for me?
If you had known it would come to this
you shouldn't have acted this way.
My aunt, what's done is done
don’t blame me anymore.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty! Imperial concubine!
What’s wrong?
You Majesty!
Urgent report form Duke Cao.
He has sent me an urgent report just now.
Now it comes another urgent report.
Lord Yan massed his army at north of the Yangtze River
Duke Cao cannot stop Lord Yan.
Lord Yan is about to cross the river.
What?
Your Majesty!
He may come to fight with us.
That is to say
He is leading his army
to invade our capital.
What should we do?
Your Majesty
I have already made an order to
the Yangtze River Army to block the river.
If Lord Yan really wants to launch a war
He will be annihilated on the spot.
I'm afraid it's not right for me
to start a war
as soon as I took the throne
What’s more
Lord Yan
came to pay homage to the Xiao Ling Tomb.
Take an example of the people of my country
if the father died
the son
will worship his father
to show his filial piety.
So, I decided to
let him come to
worship Xiao Ling Tomb.
Your Majesty!
It’s done! Pass my words to him.
Let him ride alone to cross the river
with less of his guys.
I will worship Xiao Ling Tomb with him.
And I want
the people all over the country to know
that I’m such
a righteous emperor.
Your Majesty, may I ask you a question
Do you want to
maintain a long-term Majesty?
Why did you say that?
Of course, I want to
keep the crown on my head as long as I wish.
One more question
Do you want to be dethroned as a prisoner?
Being plundered.
Being a prisoner.
What are you talking about?
How could I bear
such an end?
Your Majesty, you are of keen intelligence and excellent judgment.
The new dynasty was just established,
the country is not unified in a stable manner.
Your Majesty! Could you tell me
who has the threat to the imperial court?
That is to say, I should dismiss those lords.
Let him cross the river alone
the catch him.
I agree with Minister Huang.
Your Majesty, please make a decision.
Your Majesty, please make a decision.
I heard it myself.
Your Majesty really wants to
arrest Lord Yan.
Is that true?
No
they can’t do it to Lord Yan.
They can’t
The imperial edict reads
Lord Yan is allowed to come to capital himself
to worship Xiao Ling Tomb. By your Majesty himself.
Lord Yan, take the imperial edict please.
Your highness.
Your Majesty has taken into consideration
your filial piety.
My father just passed away
not long ago.
The national funeral has not been held yet
Yunwen
could not wait to ascend the throne.
According to the law of Ming dynasty
How could the new emperor ascend the throne
if the deceased emperor has not been sent to the tomb.
The deceased emperor said before
Keep his funeral as simple as possible.
I don’t believe
it is my father’s last wish.
He has fought all his life
founded the great Ming dynasty.
Didn’t he want
his sons
to show their filial piety at his tomb?
Did he want to
be buried in such a hurry manner?
Your Majesty!
Why don’t you believe it?
Let the people to judge
what’s his motive.
Doesn't my father
deserve a proper burial
The deceased emperor has been buried in Xiao Ling Tomb.
Your highness.
the deceased emperor is gone.
Let him be in his grave
is the most important thing.
Moreover
the deceased emperor did not want
anything bad
happen to you and your nephew.
Alright, I will be there.
Your highness, you can’t go alone
it’s extremely dangerous.
I'd like to know
what Yunwen can do to me
Go! Go!
Go! Go!
Come on, be quick.
This is the only way which Lord Yan will pass.
Guys, lie in ambush
and scatter to your positions.
Go! Go!
Be quicker!
Got it. Go! Go!
Go! Go!
Lord Yan.
Miaoyun
What’s up?
Lord Yan, you can’t go to imperial palace.
How you get out of the palace?
Listen to me, do not go to imperial palace.
No, I must go to worship my father.
My father
My father died! The Xiao Ling Tomb is just over there.
As his son
how could I not go to worship him?
Bury your filial piety in your heart
Are there troops in ambush outside the palace?
Stop asking.
Who let you come?
Listen to me, stop asking.
Did Yunwen deceive me
to go to the palace?
I’ve told you
stop asking
Your Majesty has his reasons.
Your Majesty? You called him your Majesty!
The burial of my father has not been held.
He was so hurry to
take the throne
I must interrogate him
what’s his motive.
He did all of those
for the peace of the imperial court.
The peace of the imperial court?
For the peace of the imperial court
he wrote the false will!
For the peace of the imperial court
He cut off the bond and blood
Didn’t allow
us
to worship our father.
Perhaps there are treacherous ministers in charge
he is nothing but a puppet.
At present, it’s no use
talking about it.
Your highness
You’d better take your guys
to retreat to the north.
No, I’m not a bandit.
So, you want to be a prisoner?
My father just died
then my nephew wants to
prison his uncle.
Great! Come on.
You’d better follow my advice.
Why not have a try.
Lord Yan
You can ignore me.
But for the sake of my sister
she wants you to come back to Beiping
She doesn’t want you to be prisoned here.
How dare he. If he dares to prison me
I will let his imperial court in chaos.
There’s no need to do it.
Miaoyun, since you entered the palace
Every time I get back
you are in deep worry.
Do you know every time when I saw you
I was in deep sorrow
and my heart was bleeding.
Do you want to accept your fate like this?
Do you want to be controlled by others?
Then what should we do?
How to do?
We will not attack unless we are attacked.
if we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack.
Now how could you say that?
You are right! I came today with
eight hundred guys and horses
but was blocked at north of the Yangtze River
ended up with riding alone to the capital
with every shred of my prestige swept away.
But I’m telling you that
only few years
I will let you see my fightback
to the capital with my one hundred thousand soldiers.
Are you crazy?
The god is unfair
I will let he
take my revenge.
Miaoyun
I must get you back to my side.
Your highness.
Don’t be stupid.
The emperor is in the capital
but not in Beiping.
No matter how large Beiping is
it is just a region
a tiny area.
I just want you and my sister
keep safe in Beiping
Go back please.
Even if Yunwen
has set traps for me
I will still be there.
Even if he wants to cut me in pieces
I’ll be there.
Your highness, don’t do it.
You told that
there’s no man who
can compete with me.
Then I'll show you
How I
break into the Forbidden City alone
Have you ever thought about it?
In this way
he may have a better reason to kill you.
Miaoyun, they dare not to do it
because there are
twenty-four lords
watching the imperial court.
If he killed me
it would equal to kill himself.
Did you get it?
Your highness, don’t do it.
Please don’t do it.
Me, Zhu Di.
If I do not enter the palace
the people of the country will laugh at me.
I will not be qualified to be a son of my father.
Your highness, don’t enter from Jing Chuan Gate.
Go!
Your highness, don’t enter from Jing Chuan Gate
Go!
Your highness!
I will enter from Jing Chuan Gate.
Your highness, are you insane?
Go! Go! Go!
Get prepared!
Go! Go!
Move!
Listen to me, imperial guards
I took the imperial edict to the capital
to worship Xiao Ling Tomb
to worship the god and my parents.
And it is my duty.
Lord Yan, stop talking.
Don’t push me
I don’t want you die for me.
Catch him。
Stop pushing me.
It’s been long
there’s still no message.
It is. It is.
What we should do?
When will we get the message?
My secretaries,
It
has been so long
Why there’s still no massage of
succeeding in catching Lord Yan.
Your Majeasty, don’t worry.
As long as Lord Yan came alone
there would be no way for him to escape.
Your Majesty, I have speculated that
Lord Yan be sent here
within an hour.
Listen!
I beheaded
this military captain
is to maintain the law of Ming
the Majesty of royal family.
Get away! Go!
Lord Yan is my uncle.
Make an order to recall palace guards.
Your Majesty.
Go!
Your Majesty
I think that if you catch Lord Yan
just after the deceased emperor’s death
without any crimes or reasons being found
it may
lose your reputation of being benevolent and kind.
it will ruin the reputation of Ming dynasty as well.
Think twice, your Majesty.
You are right!
If I had
caught my uncle
How would I deal with other people?
How would I
face my ancestors?
Your Majesty, you don’t have to deal with them.
It will turn me
to a heartless person.
Your Majesty!
Don’t hesitate to do it.
It’s now or never.
If you don’t arrest Lord Yan
and let him go
he will be a big threat to you.
What should I do?
Your Majesty,
Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng intend to
dismiss the vassal lords. I think
the dismissal of vassal lords
is related to the rise and fall of the imperial court.
Even if you caught Lord Yan
his three sons are still in Beiping
If other lords
work with Beiping
How can the imperial court cope with?
Your Majesty, I agree with Minister Xu.
We met with such an unpleasant situation
at the moment of the turn from the old dynasty to the new.
It is not a good omen.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, forget his nonsense.
Enough! Stop talking.
Your Majesty!
Huang Zicheng
I got my own idea.
Your Majesty, you can’t break your words.
I hereby proclaim
recall the palace guards.
Stop! Stop!
Report to your Majesty
lord Yan came to see him.
Your Majesty
Lord Yan is out of the palace.
Tell him to come in.
Come in, Lord Yan.
Come in, Lord Yan.
Your Majesty, I have a question.
Your Majesty, now that
you allowed me to come alone
why there were
troops in ambush out of the Jing Chuan Gate to arrest me?
Why don’t keel down to your Majesty?
It turns out that
there is still loyal minister as minister Fang
such a good thing for the imperial court.
Your highness.
You are guilty of being disrespectful to your Majesty.
Just for this crime
You deserve it.
Good job!
Your Majesty, come to take me life.
No, in addition to the blood bond
you are my uncle.
Lord Yan, you are in the palace
you should conduct the courtesy between the emperor and the minister.
It is the rule of law
you didn’t obey it
then you should be punished in accordance with the rule of law.
I’d like to worship the deceased emperor first
then to the new emperor. it that ok?
My uncle, filial piety comes first.
So, go to worship Xiao Ling Tomb first.
Thanks, your Majesty!
Don’t be tenderhearted anymore, your Majesty!
Even If I was wrong
I was not in intention.
Alright!
Where did they get this?
It was Governor Zuo’s carriage.
It was Imperial Concubine Dowager who got out of imperial palace.
Where’s gold medal?
这是什么玩意
Your Majesty gave it to the Imperial Concubine Dowager.
He said that Imperial Concubine Dowager
can go anywhere she wants to go.
the Ministry of War have declared that
Only the gold medal of your Majesty is available.
Look at it!
It was her
who ride Lord Yan’s horse
to the river side.
Take her away.
Imperial Concubine Dowager!
Don’t be afraid.
They went too far!
They even did not believe it is a jade pendant of your Majesty.
How could they treat you this way!
Lord Yan is on arrival.
My father, your son is here.
My father, wish your soul will know
today
I’m here to worship you.
Forgive me for not being filial.
I was not able to see you one last time
and
serve by your side.
So, today I’m here
to ask for your forgiveness.
Forgive me, my father.
Such being the case
we must resort to another plan.
Keep Lord Yan in the capital
then we can take opportunity to kill him
Indeed, it is a good idea
I am afraid that
Lord Yan will slip away tonight.
I will
take cake of this.
Report.
Chief
Lord Yan was out.
You stupid!
You cannot even catch lord.
Stupid! All stupid!
Minister Qi
There is someone providing Lord Yan with information.
What?
Lord Yan came with preparations.
Heel rope didn’t catch his horse.
Report, we caught
the person who has provided Lord Yan with information
Who?
Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu of east palace.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu?
Well, it will be difficult for me
to handle such a thing.
No big deal
Just regard her as an ordinary woman out of the palace
and take her to the prison of the Ministry of War
Got it.
Your Majesty is on arrival.
Your Majesty!
Lord Yan
You have worshiped the deceased emperor
now you should
keel down to the new emperor.
Your Majesty.
Uncle Di.
You don’t have to do it.
Here is not imperial court
but the royal cemetery.
No need to do it
You have already become the emperor
the I must follow the courtesy between emperor and his ministers.
Uncle Di, don’t do it.
Today I’m just your nephew.
Yunwen, do you remember?
When you are still a child
I always took you to have fun.
In my mind
I like you most.
I still remember all the things.
Uncle Di, do you remember
when grandpa granted you as
Lord of Beiping and let you go there
My father and I stood at the swallow-like Rock
to watch you crossing the Yangtze River.
Yes, I do.
It seems that all of those happened yesterday.
But now
my father has gone.
You father is a kind-hearted man
and
my elder brother.
Uncle Di, today
In front of grandpa
I want you to do me a favor.
Tell me.
The deceased emperor lived a poor life.
He passed on the throne
to his offspring.
So, we should value and love it
because it is the best gift in the world.
Although I ascended the throne
I know my ability is inferior and my knowledge limited
So, I hope you
and other uncles of our family
take the Ming as
your home
love and valve
everything of Ming.
Uncle Di, you are
my example.
Wish you
can be loyal
to me.
Your Majesty
Don’t you want to arrest me?
Uncle Di
It’s not my idea.
Take care!
Your secretaries
spread rumors
to create trouble
messing up the country.
I got it.
You can recognize this.
I will have no worries.
Uncle Di
You haven’t promise me my request.
Must do it?
Alright!
I promise you
I will be loyal to you.
Satisfied?
Great! Let’s
Go to Qian Qing palace.
I will treat you on your arrival.
It is easy to say goodbye but hard to meet again.
I don’t know when we will meet the next time.
Imperial Concubine Dowager.
Stay there!
Wait please!
What’s up?
Do you have
any news about Lord Yan.
Does it matter?
Tell us what you got.
You
know nothing about
that issue, right?
Who told you I know nothing!
Today Lord Yan risked his life
to enter Jing Chuan Gate alone.
So, what about him?
He is lucky.
Traps set by palace guards
failed to trap him.
Lord Yan
is a man, a hero.
Locked! Don’t try to escape!
Let’s go!
Imperial Concubine Dowager, lord Yan is safe and sound.
He is fine. He is fine.
Uncle Di
take my carriage to the palace.
Thanks, your Majesty!
But I’d better go back to Beiping.
Your highness.
The ministry of war has ordered
General Li
to take care of your guys.
And I have tidied up the room of west park.
Your highness, you can stay there.
Thanks! But I’d better
go back to my camp.
Uncle Di, you had a long journey here
If I didn’t treat you with wine
I will feel guilty.
Or
you have some misconceptions on me?
How come?
Uncle Di,
I sincerely want to
keep you here.
If you went away
I will feel guilty to you
and
to my dead grandpa.
Or you are afraid that
I will arrest you.
If you think in this away
then you can leave
I will send you to the other side of Yangtze River by myself.
Well, you are so sincere
I will stay for one night.
Uncle Di
Please stay here for more days.
Okay.
Then follow the emperor's advice.
Go back to the palace.
Please!
Your Majesty!
I thought I’d better
go back to the north of the Yangtze River after the drink.
My guys
have already
addressed the problem of going back to north of Yangtze river.
You can stay here at west park
for more days.
Moreover
I will discuss with my secretaries
to grant you as prime minister Zhuo of Ming.
The you can stay at the capital in the future.
When father was alive
he has already
removed prime minister
form the official positions.
Yes, he did.
But I can restore
the position of prime minister.
After the restoration of this position
you will be the first prime minister of Ming.
As for the title of Lord Yan
I can grant it to
brother Gao Zhi.
It is a wonderful thing
for me, for you, for Ming dynasty
for brother Gao Zhi.
It will benefit all of us.
Your uncle is not capable of
taking the duty.
Your Majesty
We’d better follow the courtesy.
Here’s to you.
Uncle Di, you don’t have to do it.
I
invited a guest
she will be here
in a few minutes
Great!
Your Majesty! Your highness!
Your Majesty
Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu is not in east palace.
Then
Where’s she?
I told guys to search around the palace
but we can’t
find Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu.
You mean
Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu
disappeared.
I just received a message
from the guard of northwest side gate.
He said at the midday today
Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu and Hong Xing
went out of the palace.
Darned!
They are the guard of imperial palace
how could they
let go of Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu at their will.
It messed up
the rule of the palace.
Your Majesty
you have given
a jade pendant
to Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu
and said that she can go out of the palace at her will.
It...
Wait here, chief Wang.
Got it.
Chief Wan.
Minister Qi, you are here.
Your Majesty is young
I must help him
by solving his problem.
Everybody! Listen to me carefully!
Block all the exits of west park.
Only the member of Qian Qing palace
can enter the west park. Get it?
Got it.
Go!
Got it. Go!
Minister Qi
Your Majesty ordered me to
find Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu? Chief Wang
we didn’t see her
is that right?
Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu, I’m hungry.
Hold it back.
Somebody here? Somebody here?
Stop shouting
late at night
Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu is hungry.
Get something to eat!
Imperial Concubine Dowager? Kidding me?
They are
all descendants of royal families.
How could they be in prison.
Stop talking.
Imperial Concubine Dowager, what we should do?
Don’t worry, Hong Xing.
Your Majesty will come to save us
Your Majesty?
If he knew
we are stocked here
He has already come to save us.
I’m afraid that
somebody wants to kill us secretly.
Lord Yan didn’t
take your advice seriously.
If he hasn’t entered the palace
those things would not happen
I’m sorry
Imperial Concubine Dowager
If your Majesty can not save us in time
my life is worthless
but you will die
because of lord Yan.
I am willing to die for him.
I’m willing to trade my life
for his.
As long as keeping him safe
I’m willing to do that.
But now
we don’t have any news about lord Yan
He entered Jing Chuan Gate,
but we don’t know whether he is alive or not.
I’m worrying about him.
Lord Yan is a lucky guy.
He will be ok.
Suddenly I thought
the emperor is quite pathetic.
If he knows you went to
tell Lord Yan all the information
he will be furious.
If one day
Your Majesty and Lord Yan
are in fights
and incompatible as fire and water, what will you do?
Hong Xing
So many worries of you.
I’m worrying too.
But I don’t want
that day to come.
Stop thinking about it.
Stop, Lord Yan.
Your Majesty ordered that
nobody is allowed to enter or exit west park.
I go out to find somebody.
You can’t go out
without his permission.
Go and ask your Majesty to be here.
I am going to ask him
what is his intention?
Calm down, Lord Yan.
I just follow his order.
He is asleep now.
If you have something to tell him
please do it tomorrow.
You guys, come here.
tell me
why haven’t Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu
come back?
She didn’t get back
after she went out of the palace today.
Do you know where she is?
Then why are you still here.
Go and search
the palace and the places out of the palace to find her.
Got it!
Aunt
If you did not come back
How can I find you?
Stop! Stop there!
What are you doing?
I come to
my brother Di.
Who are you?
Does it matter?
I want see my brother Di.
I’m sorry.
Nobody is allowed to enter west park.
I’m not nobody
I’m his future wife.
Please go back! Your Majesty ordered that
nobody is allowed to enter west park.
or I will stop you right now.
You...
You don’t let me see my brother Di
That means you are breaking the relationship
between brother Di and me.
I will go to tell your Majesty
to behead you.
Your Majesty, it’s late.
Please go back to sleep.
I haven’t found my aunt yet
How can I fall asleep?
Your Majesty, keep heathy is more important.
May Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu
go to west park?
Yes, there’s possibility.
I will get there right now.
Your Majesty
You just returned
from the west park.
If Imperial Concubine Dowager Xu
was there
It will be embarrassing
if you get there at the moment.
Your Majesty
I must tell you that
Due to her title of Imperial Concubine Dowager
You better tell her
not to go anywhere she wants.
Your Majesty
empress told me to
invite you.
Tell empress
I will stay at Qian Qing Palace.
But, your Majesty.
This is my order.
Follow my order
and tell empress
do not bother
me in the future.
Your Majesty.
Stop it and go yourself.
All of you, go now.
Just leave me alone.
Got it. Your Majesty.
Wang Yue.
Your Majesty.
Go to west park
to see if Imperial Concubine Dowager
is there.
Remember. Go and return to report me! Be quick.
Don’t let anybody know it.
Got it!
Empress, your Majesty...
He still doesn’t want to come?
Empress
don’t be sad!
How can I?
We just got married
but he has never been to
Kun Ning palace.
He treated me as air.
I thought
sometimes you
must be more proactive.
How can I?
I have sent you to invite him for several times.
Is that not enough?
At least I'm an empress
a motherly model of the nation.
Should I put away my face to
ask the emperor to Kun Ning palace
and beg him
to spoil me?
I’m the empress, I can’t
do such a humiliating thing.
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