1 00:00:00,430 --> 00:00:03,600 {\an8}"The Man Who Was Nothing" 2 00:00:07,270 --> 00:00:08,980 Qin's second... 3 00:00:11,650 --> 00:00:12,990 ...great general... 4 00:00:14,450 --> 00:00:18,200 Moving on to our two promotions! 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,040 Colonel Wang Ben of the Yu Feng Force! 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,420 Colonel Xin of the Fei Xin Force! 7 00:00:25,420 --> 00:00:26,960 Step forward! 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,000 All right! 9 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,000 Lord Ben! 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,670 Yesss! 11 00:00:31,670 --> 00:00:33,970 You did it, Xin! 12 00:00:33,970 --> 00:00:35,630 Yeah. 13 00:00:35,630 --> 00:00:39,760 But Wang Ben accomplished a lot at Zhuyong. 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,890 Do you think he'll go straight to... 15 00:00:48,060 --> 00:00:49,980 Come on, come on... 16 00:00:51,860 --> 00:00:56,860 Given their slaying of Zi Bai and Ling Huang, both Fire Dragons of Wei, 17 00:00:56,860 --> 00:01:00,990 and their efforts defending Zhuyong, 18 00:01:00,990 --> 00:01:04,750 both are hereby promoted to brigadier, commanding 5,000 troops! 19 00:01:09,420 --> 00:01:12,880 All right! Brigadier at last! 20 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,220 Only one more--only one more, Xin! 21 00:01:17,510 --> 00:01:21,180 And Wang Ben got hung up at brigadier, too! 22 00:01:21,180 --> 00:01:24,390 Xin's a brigadier, at long last... 23 00:01:24,390 --> 00:01:25,480 Diao! 24 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:26,480 I know! 25 00:01:28,850 --> 00:01:32,690 So no one skipped a step to general. 26 00:01:32,690 --> 00:01:34,820 I wonder how close it was. 27 00:01:38,530 --> 00:01:43,330 I expected this for that idiot Xin, but even Wang Ben stopped at brigadier. 28 00:01:50,670 --> 00:01:55,090 I see that dissatisfied look, but this came down from on high. 29 00:01:55,090 --> 00:01:58,050 Me, I'm just gonna be happy. 30 00:01:58,050 --> 00:02:02,970 You just happened to take Ling Huang's head, thinking he was Fengming. 31 00:02:03,850 --> 00:02:08,730 You should be ashamed you failed to slay a commanding general, 32 00:02:08,730 --> 00:02:11,650 but sure, you go ahead and be happy. 33 00:02:16,940 --> 00:02:18,950 The hell did you just say?! 34 00:02:18,950 --> 00:02:20,570 Whoa! Xin! 35 00:02:20,570 --> 00:02:23,450 How dare you speak to Lord Ben like that! 36 00:02:23,450 --> 00:02:25,830 Kill him! Kill Xin of the Fei Xin Force! 37 00:02:27,540 --> 00:02:30,920 Pl-Please! Not during a formal ceremony! 38 00:04:02,130 --> 00:04:04,090 After the ceremony, 39 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:08,720 {\an8}"Qin" 40 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:08,720 {\an8}"Wei" "Han" 41 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:08,720 {\an8}"Meng Wu's Army" "Chu" 42 00:04:04,090 --> 00:04:09,350 Lu Wuwei's army and the Yu Feng Force deployed to the southern front. 43 00:04:09,350 --> 00:04:13,020 They were reinforcements for Meng Wu's army as it battled Chu. 44 00:04:15,350 --> 00:04:19,570 Wang Ben's already under Lu Wuwei. 45 00:04:19,570 --> 00:04:22,240 Huh? "Already"? 46 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:27,450 Commanding 5,000 troops is nothing like commanding 3 or 4,000. 47 00:04:27,450 --> 00:04:32,330 It's only through a brigadier's eyes, one step below general, 48 00:04:32,330 --> 00:04:37,210 that what a general is comes into fuller focus. 49 00:04:37,210 --> 00:04:42,460 That's why General Teng didn't want Wang Ben to skip that step-- 50 00:04:42,460 --> 00:04:45,840 and why he denied his promotion to general. 51 00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:46,930 Huh? 52 00:04:46,930 --> 00:04:48,390 Huh?! 53 00:04:48,390 --> 00:04:52,390 So without your thumbs-down, Wang Ben would be a gen-- 54 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:59,360 I understand the high commander was opposed as well. 55 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,650 That man gets it, all right. 56 00:05:02,650 --> 00:05:06,200 Brigadier is not just a stepping-stone; 57 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,990 it's where you shed your selfishness and get results. 58 00:05:10,990 --> 00:05:14,330 And once you do, you'll both be 59 00:05:14,330 --> 00:05:15,790 honest-to-goodness generals. 60 00:05:18,130 --> 00:05:21,880 The responsibility of defending Zhuyong without Lu Wuwei and Wang Ben 61 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,550 weighs much more heavily now, 62 00:05:24,550 --> 00:05:26,630 Brigadier Xin. 63 00:05:27,890 --> 00:05:33,430 Now steer this defensive battle under Long Guo--and beside him. 64 00:05:42,270 --> 00:05:44,570 The brigadier experience... 65 00:05:44,570 --> 00:05:48,910 Still, I made it to one step away. 66 00:05:48,910 --> 00:05:51,450 Sure, great general is above that... 67 00:05:51,450 --> 00:05:53,160 but general comes first. 68 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,000 Can you make general in five short years? 69 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,250 If so, then five years from now, 70 00:06:01,250 --> 00:06:06,220 the general I mobilize with my very first command will be you, Xin! 71 00:06:08,010 --> 00:06:09,220 I mean, 72 00:06:09,220 --> 00:06:13,100 I'm here for it, but what about you? 73 00:06:13,100 --> 00:06:17,390 Didn't you say next year's crowning ceremony was your marker? 74 00:06:19,650 --> 00:06:20,690 Long Guo. 75 00:06:23,150 --> 00:06:25,110 Which way is Xianyang? 76 00:06:25,110 --> 00:06:26,320 That way. 77 00:06:27,650 --> 00:06:30,490 I guess this Ai place has got you pretty rattled... 78 00:06:32,910 --> 00:06:35,450 Give 'em hell, Zheng. 79 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,500 Ai's growth cannot be stopped! 80 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:43,880 Even Baiwei and Mingyang are under its banner! 81 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,380 Lots of people and money are moving behind the scenes! 82 00:06:46,380 --> 00:06:48,470 Other nations are sending envoys-- 83 00:06:48,470 --> 00:06:52,260 and Ai is doing diplomacy all on their own! 84 00:06:55,140 --> 00:06:58,480 Ai, which reformed Taiyuan without permission and became a nation, 85 00:06:58,180 --> 00:07:01,440 {\an8}"Yan" 86 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,810 grew more powerful by the day. 87 00:07:00,810 --> 00:07:05,360 Lao Ai's expression, too, changed slightly. 88 00:07:07,740 --> 00:07:10,490 Not a problem, not a problem at all. 89 00:07:14,070 --> 00:07:17,160 Queen Dowager! Lao Ai, sir! 90 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,170 We've received a 5,000-gold donation from the house of Mingli! 91 00:07:21,170 --> 00:07:25,040 Mingli? You mean the Mingli nobles of Zhao?! 92 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:29,840 The other nations are trying to fatten us up. 93 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:34,720 All according to plan, but the scale is getting a little out of hand. 94 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,140 Ah, what a waste. 95 00:07:38,140 --> 00:07:42,850 To think we have to send nearly half of this to Xianyang. 96 00:07:42,850 --> 00:07:47,070 Idiot. That's how we protect our own interests. 97 00:07:47,070 --> 00:07:49,780 Still, it's such a waste. 98 00:07:51,740 --> 00:07:55,950 Why don't we put this into our military and take down Xianyang? 99 00:08:00,250 --> 00:08:02,670 Watch what you say. 100 00:08:02,670 --> 00:08:06,540 We'd need ten times the money and manpower to take on Xianyang. 101 00:08:08,460 --> 00:08:10,840 I-It was a joke! 102 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:11,840 Move! 103 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:21,060 The Queen Dowager's been in such a bad mood lately... 104 00:08:21,060 --> 00:08:23,980 That stands to reason. 105 00:08:23,980 --> 00:08:26,110 Minister Hu Li? 106 00:08:26,110 --> 00:08:29,190 She is a woman, albeit Queen Dowager. 107 00:08:29,190 --> 00:08:33,700 She would find war talk to be tiring. 108 00:08:33,700 --> 00:08:37,160 With the Queen Dowager's health in mind, 109 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:42,790 I believe the men ought to draw up a plan alone. 110 00:08:42,790 --> 00:08:43,830 A plan? 111 00:08:43,830 --> 00:08:45,460 Why... 112 00:08:45,460 --> 00:08:49,040 ...to attack Xianyang, of course. 113 00:08:51,130 --> 00:08:53,550 But... but that's... 114 00:09:03,930 --> 00:09:05,890 Come inside. 115 00:09:05,890 --> 00:09:08,690 The air has grown quite cold. 116 00:09:10,070 --> 00:09:11,730 This season... 117 00:09:14,030 --> 00:09:16,160 It reminds me of my mother's abuse. 118 00:09:17,740 --> 00:09:20,280 In a Zhao hovel, 119 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,870 both of us in rags. 120 00:09:22,870 --> 00:09:25,370 "This damn season again," she'd say, 121 00:09:25,370 --> 00:09:27,080 and click her tongue. 122 00:09:30,540 --> 00:09:32,800 Sire... 123 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:38,090 If Ai goes on expanding at this rate, it will collapse. 124 00:09:38,090 --> 00:09:39,720 And when it does... 125 00:09:43,100 --> 00:09:44,850 All this time, 126 00:09:44,850 --> 00:09:48,600 I've been thinking only of defeating Lü Buwei. 127 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,110 But perhaps it's also my role 128 00:09:51,110 --> 00:09:53,030 to quell my mother's anguish. 129 00:09:54,610 --> 00:09:58,450 My role... as her legitimate child by blood. 130 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,180 A New Year's ceremony 131 00:10:23,180 --> 00:10:26,600 was held in the ninth year of the future Shi Huangdi's reign. 132 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,100 Happy New Year! 133 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:30,980 --Your Highness! --Long live Qin! 134 00:10:30,980 --> 00:10:35,400 It was the year of Zheng's crowning ceremony at last. 135 00:10:39,530 --> 00:10:42,780 Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man... 136 00:10:42,780 --> 00:10:43,580 --Oh, man-- --You look beat. 137 00:10:43,580 --> 00:10:46,120 --Whoa! When'd you show up?! --You look beat. 138 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:47,830 Now. 139 00:10:47,830 --> 00:10:49,290 What's that about? 140 00:10:49,290 --> 00:10:52,080 The stress of being a brigadier? 141 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,840 Yeah. Or actually, 142 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,880 the stress of dealin' with Long Guo. 143 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,590 Sheesh! 144 00:10:58,590 --> 00:11:01,010 --Why didn't you defend the riverbank? --I had no idea he was such a pain in the ass! 145 00:11:01,010 --> 00:11:03,300 --You fell for their diversionary tactics! --I had no idea he was such a pain in the ass! 146 00:11:03,300 --> 00:11:08,180 Always naggin' and findin' fault and nitpickin'! 147 00:11:08,180 --> 00:11:09,440 Here. Best regards. 148 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:10,770 What?! 149 00:11:10,770 --> 00:11:13,310 You know, for the new year. 150 00:11:17,030 --> 00:11:18,030 Right. 151 00:11:22,070 --> 00:11:25,530 That reminds me: Long Guo mentioned you, too. 152 00:11:27,290 --> 00:11:31,330 About you becomin' a brigade commander at that ceremony, 153 00:11:31,330 --> 00:11:33,580 with some troops all your own. 154 00:11:34,540 --> 00:11:38,170 With my 5,000, that makes 8,000. 155 00:11:38,170 --> 00:11:41,930 If Qiang Lei remains as the Fei Xin Force's lieutenant, 156 00:11:41,930 --> 00:11:44,600 it'll become an 8,000-troop unit. 157 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:49,180 And since that is too big for your rank as brigadier, 158 00:11:49,180 --> 00:11:53,940 it doesn't make sense for Qiang Lei's unit to fall under the Fei Xin Force. 159 00:11:53,940 --> 00:11:55,400 Picky, picky. 160 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,650 Right?! He's like that with everything! 161 00:11:59,940 --> 00:12:03,700 His reasoning holds, though. 162 00:12:03,700 --> 00:12:06,700 Still, I won't strike out on my own. 163 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:09,410 I'm with the Fei Xin Force till the very end. 164 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,210 Yeah, we'll just make up a good excuse Long Guo. Piece of cake! 165 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:23,220 Construction on this place really is coming along, huh. 166 00:12:24,340 --> 00:12:26,180 Yeah, I guess. 167 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,020 Check it out, Qiang Lei-- 168 00:12:30,020 --> 00:12:33,310 once that outer wall they're workin' on is finished, 169 00:12:33,310 --> 00:12:37,360 we'll have the bare minimum of a defensive stronghold. 170 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,320 And then, finally... 171 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:40,940 We take the offensive? 172 00:12:40,940 --> 00:12:41,940 Yeah. 173 00:12:43,150 --> 00:12:45,820 Zhuyong here was our foothold-- 174 00:12:45,820 --> 00:12:48,580 pretty soon we'll be startin' our attack on Wei. 175 00:12:48,580 --> 00:12:52,620 Things sure do seem to be a mess on the inside, though. 176 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,130 It'll get cleaned up this year. 177 00:12:59,170 --> 00:13:01,170 This fabric. 178 00:13:01,170 --> 00:13:02,380 Yes, sire! 179 00:13:02,380 --> 00:13:04,720 Decorated with this dragon. 180 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:06,550 Yes, sire! 181 00:13:06,550 --> 00:13:09,100 At last, the crowning ceremony... 182 00:13:09,890 --> 00:13:12,060 If that all goes smoothly, 183 00:13:12,060 --> 00:13:18,900 all will recognize His Highness as the legitimate ruler of Qin. 184 00:13:18,900 --> 00:13:23,900 Which means we of the king's faction will be victorious. 185 00:13:23,900 --> 00:13:29,950 Surely Lü Buwei won't wait quietly until then. 186 00:13:29,950 --> 00:13:32,290 Sir! 187 00:13:32,290 --> 00:13:35,500 Another thousand troops have arrived. 188 00:13:35,500 --> 00:13:37,540 Thank you. 189 00:13:37,540 --> 00:13:41,170 Assign them as bodyguards to VIPs like Lady Liu Yi and Si Shi, 190 00:13:41,170 --> 00:13:43,340 bolstering our defenses. 191 00:13:43,340 --> 00:13:47,550 We cannot lose a single one before the ceremony, Bi. 192 00:13:47,550 --> 00:13:49,090 Sir! 193 00:13:49,090 --> 00:13:54,600 Lü Buwei won't get away with the slightest thing--not on my watch. 194 00:13:59,650 --> 00:14:00,810 Lü Buwei, sir. 195 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,990 The watchful eye of the king's faction--of Lord Changwen-- 196 00:14:06,990 --> 00:14:09,990 is causing more trouble than expected. 197 00:14:12,990 --> 00:14:18,710 In order to make things happen, we'll need to proceed with extreme care. 198 00:14:18,710 --> 00:14:21,670 That won't be necessary. 199 00:14:27,300 --> 00:14:31,350 We're not the ones making a move. 200 00:14:31,350 --> 00:14:36,310 This is the Zhao king's envoy, Shang Hui! 201 00:14:36,310 --> 00:14:39,730 This is the Chu king's envoy, Bei Liang! 202 00:14:41,730 --> 00:14:45,570 Not a problem, not a problem at all. 203 00:14:45,570 --> 00:14:49,910 The king of Chu rejoices in Ai's prosperity, 204 00:14:49,910 --> 00:14:54,330 and finds you most promising indeed, Lao Ai, sir. 205 00:14:54,330 --> 00:14:58,960 Th-The king of Chu... me? 206 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,040 Furthermore, His Highness said... 207 00:15:04,380 --> 00:15:08,920 "If this is the nation of Ai, is it not right that its ruler, 208 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:11,800 Lao Ai, go by the title of 'king'?" 209 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:15,720 Ooh! 210 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:17,430 I like that! 211 00:15:17,430 --> 00:15:21,900 The king of Zhao has made a similar proclamation! 212 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:23,310 My goodness! 213 00:15:23,310 --> 00:15:26,030 --Long live King Ai! --Me, king? 214 00:15:26,030 --> 00:15:28,990 Long live King Ai! 215 00:15:28,990 --> 00:15:31,700 Long live King Ai! 216 00:15:33,490 --> 00:15:37,370 You've done too good a job, Zhao Gao. 217 00:15:37,370 --> 00:15:40,290 My apologies, madam. 218 00:15:40,290 --> 00:15:47,050 I'm exercising your law-revising authority to tinker with it a bit. 219 00:15:47,050 --> 00:15:49,300 It's all yours. 220 00:15:49,300 --> 00:15:53,140 More than a few of our ministers are turning into other nations' pawns. 221 00:15:53,140 --> 00:15:54,800 Flush them out. 222 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:55,800 Madam. 223 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:03,150 Mostly I wanted to fatten up Ai so it couldn't be meddled with so easily, 224 00:16:03,150 --> 00:16:09,150 but it'd be no laughing matter if we lost control and were overthrown, Zhao Gao. 225 00:16:11,990 --> 00:16:13,280 Leave it to me. 226 00:16:14,450 --> 00:16:16,700 {\an8}"Ai" 227 00:16:17,580 --> 00:16:19,830 This is when we bide our time. 228 00:16:19,830 --> 00:16:23,120 I believe I cautioned you against making 229 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:26,210 conspicuous moves, 230 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:30,960 {\an8}"Ai General - Fan Wuji" 231 00:16:26,210 --> 00:16:28,460 General Fan Wuji. 232 00:16:28,460 --> 00:16:31,340 I haven't done much of anything. 233 00:16:31,340 --> 00:16:35,010 Just a mock battle during our morning drills. 234 00:16:35,010 --> 00:16:37,010 Father, 235 00:16:36,470 --> 00:16:39,970 {\an8}"Fan Liuji" 236 00:16:37,010 --> 00:16:40,100 it may have been the settlement of some obscure tribe, 237 00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:42,600 but it made for a great drill. 238 00:16:46,020 --> 00:16:49,320 May I remind you, General, 239 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:54,200 that this is the time for us to hide our fangs from Xianyang's eyes-- 240 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,780 in preparation for the main event. 241 00:16:56,780 --> 00:17:00,290 I know, Minister Hu Li. 242 00:17:00,290 --> 00:17:04,120 But we're all ready to go. 243 00:17:04,120 --> 00:17:07,960 If an army like that doesn't let off steam once in a while, 244 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,800 it can lead to internal collapse. 245 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:15,220 Really breaks the ol' general's heart, eh, Father? 246 00:17:15,220 --> 00:17:21,930 You're the problem here, not committing to a time for the main event. 247 00:17:21,930 --> 00:17:25,890 If you're going to keep wasting our time... 248 00:17:25,890 --> 00:17:29,980 we'll wipe out every last settlement in the area. 249 00:17:31,980 --> 00:17:34,650 Worry not. 250 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,780 {\an8}"Ai" 251 00:17:34,650 --> 00:17:36,530 We're almost there. 252 00:17:40,870 --> 00:17:43,950 Good morning, Your Highness! 253 00:17:43,950 --> 00:17:47,080 --Greetings, Your Highness! --Ah, Your Highness! --Hello, King Ai! 254 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:51,000 I told them to stop this "Your Highness" stuff, but the Queen Dowager... 255 00:17:52,380 --> 00:17:54,880 Oh, what's the harm? 256 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,010 It doesn't leave these walls. 257 00:17:58,010 --> 00:18:00,050 --Your Highness! --Your Highness! 258 00:18:00,050 --> 00:18:03,520 It's frightening when you really think about it: 259 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:08,730 someone like me, suddenly being called "king." 260 00:18:09,810 --> 00:18:13,980 Me, who had no redeeming traits... 261 00:18:13,980 --> 00:18:16,400 I was born to a lower-class official, 262 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,200 bullied as a child despite my size 263 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:23,990 for being weak in both body and mind. 264 00:18:23,990 --> 00:18:29,120 Lacking courage as an adult, too, I stayed off the battlefield. 265 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:32,130 No woman would have me, of course. 266 00:18:32,130 --> 00:18:36,420 Somehow I became a lower-class official through my father's connections, 267 00:18:36,420 --> 00:18:38,930 but there, too, I lacked the skill; 268 00:18:38,930 --> 00:18:43,810 the only thing I really did was entertain upper- and mid-level officials, 269 00:18:43,810 --> 00:18:47,350 performing vulgar tricks night after night. 270 00:18:47,350 --> 00:18:50,980 But that's how it all started. 271 00:18:50,980 --> 00:18:54,690 I sneaked into the Inner Palace as a false eunuch 272 00:18:54,690 --> 00:18:58,280 and began entertaining the Queen Dowager instead. 273 00:19:01,530 --> 00:19:04,280 So you're Lao Ai? 274 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,000 Y-Yes, madam! 275 00:19:12,290 --> 00:19:16,340 At first, it was so terrifying I couldn't bear it. 276 00:19:16,340 --> 00:19:20,430 Every night, the Queen Dowager, like a woman possessed... 277 00:19:23,550 --> 00:19:27,810 Then one night... I saw it. 278 00:19:29,140 --> 00:19:32,940 The Queen Dowager, her face twisted in ecstasy, 279 00:19:32,940 --> 00:19:35,610 was crying. 280 00:19:38,650 --> 00:19:40,650 Even a dullard like me 281 00:19:40,650 --> 00:19:43,370 could see those eyes and understand: 282 00:19:43,370 --> 00:19:45,080 This is someone 283 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,750 who has been terribly, deeply hurt. 284 00:19:48,750 --> 00:19:51,370 More deeply than anyone else-- 285 00:19:51,370 --> 00:19:54,290 more deeply than I could imagine. 286 00:19:54,290 --> 00:19:57,210 Her wounds lay open all this time, 287 00:19:57,210 --> 00:19:59,510 tormenting her. 288 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,510 I was there to be the outlet for her pain, nothing more. 289 00:20:07,010 --> 00:20:09,890 But I didn't mind. 290 00:20:11,020 --> 00:20:14,810 I could make her happy, even if only as a male prostitute. 291 00:20:16,230 --> 00:20:18,230 For the first time, 292 00:20:18,230 --> 00:20:20,530 I was needed. 293 00:20:20,530 --> 00:20:21,700 And then... 294 00:20:24,110 --> 00:20:27,700 My humble self saw the Queen Dowager as... 295 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:33,710 You're with child?! 296 00:20:33,710 --> 00:20:37,670 A-A thousand pardons! A thousand pardons! 297 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,090 Lao Ai. 298 00:20:44,130 --> 00:20:45,590 I shall... 299 00:20:45,590 --> 00:20:46,800 ...keep it. 300 00:20:51,730 --> 00:20:54,440 But... but you mustn't, madam! 301 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,940 Please--anything but that! 302 00:20:56,940 --> 00:21:00,530 Oh, does it inconvenience you, Lao Ai? 303 00:21:00,530 --> 00:21:02,950 No, madam, not in the slightest! 304 00:21:02,950 --> 00:21:07,370 For--for you to bear our child... 305 00:21:07,370 --> 00:21:12,330 Truly, I'm so happy-- I'm on top of the world! 306 00:21:12,330 --> 00:21:16,630 But you mustn't! There lies the road to ruin! 307 00:21:16,630 --> 00:21:20,840 The road to ruin, eh? Harsh words, Lao Ai. 308 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,720 Forgive me! Forgive me! 309 00:21:29,850 --> 00:21:33,930 My life has been on that road for a long time. 310 00:21:33,930 --> 00:21:36,940 What's a little more ruin now? 311 00:21:36,940 --> 00:21:39,110 M-Madam... 312 00:21:40,360 --> 00:21:44,030 But don't mistake me, Lao Ai. 313 00:21:44,030 --> 00:21:47,990 I'm not looking to hasten my decline. 314 00:21:47,990 --> 00:21:49,950 For some reason, 315 00:21:49,950 --> 00:21:54,830 having this brat inside me has given me the exact opposite desire. 316 00:21:54,830 --> 00:21:57,500 The... exact opposite? 317 00:21:58,750 --> 00:22:00,040 Yes: 318 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,920 the desire to rest my mind. 319 00:22:05,220 --> 00:22:09,800 With that birth, there was no going back for the Queen Dowager. 320 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,970 It led us here, to Ai. 321 00:22:12,970 --> 00:22:15,680 That's what I'd thought. 322 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,650 But that's not the case. 323 00:22:18,650 --> 00:22:23,690 We're here because it's what she was looking for: a place to rest her mind. 324 00:22:25,110 --> 00:22:27,490 My goodness. 325 00:22:27,490 --> 00:22:29,490 I'd better shape up-- 326 00:22:30,870 --> 00:22:35,160 so the Queen Dowager never cries again. 327 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,410 Pardon me, Lao Ai, sir. 328 00:22:38,460 --> 00:22:41,790 Minister Hu Li, I hereby forbid this "king" talk. 329 00:22:41,790 --> 00:22:44,380 Make sure everyone complies! 330 00:22:44,380 --> 00:22:45,510 Of course. 331 00:22:45,510 --> 00:22:49,430 Sir, we have received a top-secret report. 332 00:22:49,430 --> 00:22:52,390 The indiscretion between you and the Queen Dowager, 333 00:22:52,390 --> 00:22:54,930 including the secret children you share, 334 00:22:54,930 --> 00:22:57,560 has come to light in Xianyang. 335 00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:58,810 Wha--?! 336 00:22:58,810 --> 00:23:05,990 And now Xianyang is mustering an army to strike at Ai. 337 00:23:05,990 --> 00:23:08,400 We must make the first move-- 338 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:09,780 or everything 339 00:23:09,780 --> 00:23:11,910 will be reduced to ashes. 340 00:24:45,500 --> 00:24:55,010 {\an8}"The Crowning Ceremony" 341 00:24:47,210 --> 00:24:51,090 Next on Kingdom: "The Crowning Ceremony." 342 00:24:51,090 --> 00:24:53,090 343 00:24:53,090 --> 00:24:55,090 344 00:24:55,090 --> 00:24:57,100 345 00:24:57,100 --> 00:24:59,060