The Virtuous Queen of Han (衛子夫)

He's dead?

I tracked down the house that Dong Yu lived outside the palace.

Little did I expect to find his body in the well near his house.

People have said that many accidents have taken place in that well.

Someone had once fallen into the well and drowned.

Such a coincidence?

Do you believe that?

I don't. I believe that Dong Yu took part in this matter.

I looked into his background and discovered some clues.

It's a pity that they wouldn't be good enough to overturn the case.

Are you sure that there is a problem with that osbeckia?

I once guarded the northwestern regions.

I know that this herb comes from the western regions.

Its element is extremely cold.

The old and the weak must not take it.

If Lady Rui had been drinking licorice soup for many years

it would clash with this herb.

There is a high possibility of it being dangerous.

Unfortunately, this is only what you heard on the frontier.

We couldn't use it as an evidence. It would not be convincing enough.

The cooks might have seen Dong Yu using osbeckia to season Lady Rui's food

but they couldn't tell how much was used in it.

Even if we summon the imperial physicians to study it now

we would need time before we could prove that

Lady Rui died from the poisoning caused by the clash of these foods.

But we have less than a day...

Your Majesty, what we have at hand needs time to be proven.

We don't have time to spare.

It seems that there is only one last resort to take.

What?

His Majesty is coming over?

We were just notified.

He should be here very soon.

We have to close the case tomorrow.

Yet he chose to visit me now... Could he have discovered something?

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Get up now.

Get up.

Have you had your meal?

Not yet.

We'll have the meal together then.

Look, I've brought you some snacks and fruits from the south.

They expedited the delivery by horse.

I've brought them over especially for my Empress.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

You don't have to stand on ceremony.

Here.

- You may all be dismissed. - Yes.

Empress, I just took over the throne and want to accomplish many things.

You might think that I have been neglecting you.

I understand.

Please don't worry, Your Majesty. I have no complaints about that.

Empress is very understanding.

I now have nothing more to worry about.

Your Majesty...

We've known each other since we were little.

We often played together.

Our relationship is very strong.

We used to share the delicacies like this when we were little.

How could this relationship be easily influenced?

Don't worry, my Empress.

No matter what, you will always be my Empress.

I am so happy to hear you say so.

That's good then. Please keep this in mind, Empress.

Let's forget about all the obstacles and troubles we've had.

We will trust each other like we once did.

Stop vying with all the other concubines.

Your Majesty means...

After days of investigating Lady Rui's cause of death

it's highly possible that she died from

the poisoning that resulted from the clash of foods.

This usually stems from accidents.

It has nothing to with Lady Wei.

Is that so?

This whole matter is very suspicious.

This might not necessarily be a murder from poisoning.

Why should we forfeit a life by making a wrong judgment?

Why don't we...

Your Majesty hasn't been so gentle to me for such a long time.

I should be happy about it.

Grandmother has always doted on you the most.

If you could tell her the truth in person, and resolve this crisis

I will definitely be grateful to you.

We will then live in harmony, and our relationship will be stronger than ever.

Didn't our relationship start when we were little?

Why would it only get stronger if I choose to help her?

I wouldn't dare to disobey Grandmother.

Lady Wei killed Grandmother's friend.

I wonder if it is because you don't dare to disobey her

or if it's because you're so keen to get rid of Lady Wei

that you would risk sacrificing an innocent person?

Innocent? If she is innocent

Your Majesty should have investigated the case thoroughly by now?

You don't have to put on a false front to coax me into pleading on her behalf.

Ever since you took the throne, when have you spoken to me so tenderly?

Now you're only doing this for the sake of someone else!

Why should I help you?

Why? Because of this relationship between us!

Because of the capacity that you should have as the Empress of Great Han!

Like you said, as the Empress of Great Han

there is all the more reason why I could not be biased!

So much for not being biased.

I understand now!

Your Majesty, Her Highness said that she would like to rest now.

She asked you to come over tomorrow.

Head back and report to her again.

Tell her that I have an urgent matter to discuss with her.

Yes.

His Majesty said that he has an urgent matter to see you about.

I just heard from Grand Princess Dou

that the Emperor has gone to ask Jiao Er for a favor for Lady Wei.

Now, what?

Jiao Er wouldn't help him so now he's come to me.

Go and tell the Emperor that I am feeling unwell

so no one is allowed to disturb me!

Yes.

She won't see me?

Did you make it clear to her that I have an urgent matter?

I did but Her Highness is feeling unwell

and she had orders that no one is allowed to disturb her.

No one is allowed to disturb her?

Yes.

Then there's nothing I can do about it.

Duan Hong!

Present.

Didn't you tell me that you have already found evidence

to prove that Fan Niang is the true murderer of Lady Rui?

Exactly.

Arrest Fan Niang immediately!

Yes!

Qiu Ping, show my imperial guard the way.

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

Grand Empress Dowager has orders that

no one is allowed to disturb the two witnesses, Fan Niang and Xiao Qian.

The circumstances have changed.

Grand Empress Dowager is now feeling unwell.

She has already said that she must not be disturbed.

But I have to investigate this case impartially.

I could only investigate first and then report to her later.

Get up now to lead the way.

Don't give the criminals a chance to escape!

Yes.

What is the matter, Qiu Ping?

Fan Niang.

We have found evidence to prove that you are involved in the murder of Lady Rui.

I'm now taking you to the Emperor.

Don't say such nonsense.

What evidence do you have?

Do you recognize this?

We found this in your room in the Lateral Courts.

You used this osbeckia to kill Lady Rui.

How is that possible?

I don't even know what that is.

How could that sort of thing be in my room?

Is that so?

Your uncle was once an imperial physician

who served with the army at the frontier for years.

How could you not even know about osbeckia?

So what? That was my uncle!

He's already been dead for three years.

You had made copies of medical scrolls for your uncle.

You should know that osbeckia and licorice clash in elements.

Using them together will produce poison.

You have used this knowledge to poison Lady Rui, and framed Lady Wei for it!

This is just an assumption! You have no concrete proof!

Should I bring Dong Yu here to confront you?

Who's Dong Yu? I...

I don't even know him.

Then why did you go in and out of his room?

Why is your hairpin in his bedroom?

This hairpin does not belong to me.

You've forged evidence and slandered me!

Guards! The evidence is solid.

- You... - Take her away!

Yes!

Does His Majesty really plan to torture me for a confession?

Sir, Grand Empress Dowager has kept me and Xiao Qian in Changxin Palace

for fear that we will be wronged.

Her Highness is wise!

Once she learns that you used Dong Yu to kill Lady Rui

she will not let you off easily.

I beg Her Highness to uphold justice for us!

Grand Empress Dowager!

Master Steward, you have the duty to carry out His Majesty's orders

but you have to have the evidence in order to take her from Changxin Palace.

If not, even His Majesty would be in a difficult position.

Dong Yu has already confessed to the crime.

He said that Fan Niang is the mastermind.

This is a lie! Dong Yu is already dead!

He's made up the evidence and the witness!

Didn't you say that you don't know Dong Yu?

How do you know that he's dead?

- Take her away! - Yes!

Jiao Er, today is a sunny day.

It's a great day to send that woman to her death

to regain your dignity and appease your anger.

These few days have been so long.

I couldn't wait for a minute longer.

Don't worry. It's been days and His Majesty couldn't find anything.

He even went to you for help.