An Empress and the Warriors (江山美人 / Jiang shan mei ren)

Brother Xuehu

Your Highness

We're alone here. There's no need for formalities

My father, our king, once said to me

these swords are the reason for our greatness

The Kingdom of Yan was born from the blood of great Yan warriors

The battle tomorrow...

Will you promise to watch over my father?

The first time I fought at your father's side,

I was just a boy

Thousands of men lost their lives that day

It was your father's sheer determination, his bravery...

that led us to victory

and saved our kingdom

He was like a god on the battlefield

Do you really need to worry about a man like that?

Your Majesty, the enemy approaches!

Doctor...

Your Highness...

Can I pass a message to your family?

My son... he's only five...

I'll tell him his father was the bravest warrior I've ever seen

Attack!

Charge!

Your Majesty...

What happened? I don't know

The king is injured!

Your Majesty...

Help the king inside! Hurry!

Your Majesty...

Your Highness, you are needed in the king's quarters!

Doctors, how is my king?

His condition is very serious

Any sudden movement could put his life at risk

Say no more

Lord Hu, the battlefront needs immediate attention

Perhaps my lord should lead the counterattack?

I've decided to relinquish my command to...

Muyong Xuehu

My king

Defeat the Zhao army for me

Yes, sire!

Go... counterattack immediately!

Yes, sire...

Xuehu

My king

Please. Don't try to speak. Rest assured, my king

We will win this battle!

I know, Xuehu...

You've faced stronger foes before

and triumphed

It's the hidden enemies that I worry about...

The ones you don't see coming

My king, I will not fail you

Go now

Go!

How is my father?

Your Highness

His Majesty is badly injured. You must go to him

What should we do?

We have to fight back now. Take good care of His Majesty

Father Feier

When Xuehu returns, give my Swallow Sword to him

He will take care of the Great Kingdom of Yan...

and you But you'll be fine

Move in!

Retreat!

What do you want?

How could you not make me the commander?

Do you know how many men you've lost?

They're soldiers. They expect to die!

They're soldiers, but also husbands and fathers

They willingly risk their lives so their children may live in peace

They should not be made to suffer for our personal ambitions!

Then you should not entrust our fate to a bastard orphan

He may be an orphan,

but the people of Yan are his family

and this country is his home!

But I am your nephew

We are of the same blood

Yet everything you do...

each battle you fight serves only your own ambitions!

You're wrong about me

I've done everything

for the Great Kingdom of Yan

I alone can make this kingdom strong

Not in the name of ambition

but glory

Father!

My king...

Before leaving for battle,

His Majesty left clear instructions that should he die...

he is to be succeeded by Muyong Xuehu

Minister Teng, is this some kind of joke

or is my hearing worse than I thought?

How can we allow an orphaned bastard

to rule the Great Yan?

Diao Erbao!

You will speak with respect!

Is that a threat? Who's afraid of an administrator like you?

There will be no fighting in the Hall of Swords!

Diao Erbao, do you intend to disobey His Majesty's will?

If that was truly His Majesty's last wish,

no one would dare to disobey

But judging from what I can gather,

we have only your word to go on

Lord Hu, are you questioning my integrity?

We will obey His Majesty's commands. Not yours!

Before his death,

His Majesty entrusted his Swallow Sword to me

He instructed me to... Your servant understands!

His Majesty wished to appoint the princess as his successor!

Muyong and the soldiers of Yan pledge loyalty to Your Highness

until our dying breath!

My princess loves her people

As the rightful holder of the Swallow Sword, she will unite us all!

But the successor must be male!

Her Highness was entrusted with His Majesty's sword!

Who knows if His Majesty

was in his right mind...

Disrespect His Majesty again, and you will die!

Generals! Your swords are for the enemy, not each other!

The Great Yan was born on the battlefield

Each king was a supreme warrior

My princess is beautiful but perhaps too delicate

Can she really be expected to lead an army and defend our land?

I may not yet be up to the task of commanding an army...

But the blood of kings roars through my veins!

I will not disappoint my ancestors, my country or my people!

From this day forth, I will undergo military training

I pledge to behead the next enemy

who dares to invade Yan with my own hands!

Teng Bochang Yes, Your Highness

Until my training is complete, all affairs of the state are under your command

Anyone who disobeys shall be executed!

As Your Highness commands!

My lord, can the princess

really be an effective leader?

The idea of a female ruler

is ridiculous!

I won't let her destroy the honor of the Great Yan!

Why didn't you tell the truth?

My father anointed you his successor

Do you really think the army will follow me into battle?

I appreciate my king's wishes

but you are the only one

who can unite us and bring peace to the region

I wish my father were still alive...

Don't be afraid

Do you promise to stay by my side?

I promise to turn you into a proper Yan warrior

I didn't know the princess could fight so well

Your Highness...

Come on! Attack!

Get up!

Remember this... A Yan warrior will choose death

before accepting defeat! Get up!

Brother Xuehu, are you really leaving

for army camp tomorrow?

Yes! I must follow my king's example and become a brave warrior

When I grow up,

I will protect you and the Great Yan

Brother Xuehu is good to Feier and Feier loves you

This stone carries good luck and will protect you until your return

Why are you still tending the horses?

Finish quickly and get some rest!

Sir...

There is something I need to say

It's for the person I've been calling Brother Xuehu

When I was little, he used to take me riding,

hunting and fishing

Those were the happiest days of my life

Lately, he's had to scold

and even punish me

But I know that, despite his rough exterior,

he cares about me

Everything he does is for my benefit

I want him to know that I won't disappoint him

Weak arms slow arrows! Practice it again 1,000 times!

I want the princess to disappear

When she misses her coronation,

all the blame will fall on Muyong

The princess has disappeared

while under Muyong's watch. He must be punished!

This is no time to point fingers

I agree with Minister Teng

Perhaps Muyong had no part in this

We mustn't jump to conclusions

Perhaps Her Highness knew

the military would never

follow her orders

Perhaps she staged her own disappearance

Once General Muyong locates Her Highness,

the truth will be revealed!

Your Highness...

My lady!

Calm down! I'm here to help.

Who are you?

A doctor... you were struck by a poison dart

Where am I?