The Virtuous Queen of Han (衛子夫)

I have guessed correctly.

Master Duan likes these light dishes.

How did you know that?

Please excuse me.

Last time, when the King held a banquet

Master Duan seemed to be drawn to the music of the chimes that I played.

Therefore, I guessed that Master Duan probably prefers lighter flavors.

You were the one playing the chimes when I first arrived in Huainan?

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

It seems that the both of you have really hit it off.

I'll go and warm some wine for Your Highness.

I was right to send Lady Li to serve you.

The dishes that this lady made are very delicious.

Your bushel of millet has indeed reconciled me and my brother.

I have already joined forces with my brother, King of Hengshan.

Congratulations, My King!

Now that the brothers are of one mind, you are as strong and solid as rock.

Once the timing is right, you will have nothing to fear.

You are indeed smart and valiant!

I shall replace a fatuous ruler.

My King, thank you for giving me great opportunities!

Your Highness. Master Duan.

Lady Li, you may be known to be the beauty of Huainan

but you are just a songstress.

From this day forth, you shall become my god-daughter.

Your Highness' god-daughter?

During this time, be sure to keep Master Duan company.

Take care of Huainan's valuable guest for me.

Thank you, Your Highness.

I will definitely do my best to serve Master Duan.

Please do not worry, My King.

Get up now.

I thank Your Highness for your kindness.

I am sure to repay your kindness with my loyalty.

I shall address you as my brother for the loyalty you devote to me.

I'm not worthy!

I only ask to be allowed to walk around Huainan

in search of my father in times of leisure.

Of course!

The horse carriages and guards in the manor

are at your disposal at any time.

Thank you, My King!

When we found old master Duan, he was already critically ill.

Fortunately, he was discovered the moment he entered the city.

He was immediately taken to

Imperial Physician Kong's house in the suburbs.

Imperial Physician Kong is taking care of him personally.

He has managed to stay alive. How serious is his illness?

Years of despair turned into illness.

He is very weak and frail. His breath is short.

His condition doesn't look good.

Imperial Physician Kong said that if he has any family

he should be arranged to see them soon.

He might... he might not have many more days to live.

What?

Go and tell Imperial Physician Kong

that even if we have to use up all the medications in the palace

he has to keep old master Duan alive.

Moreover, this matter must be kept confidential.

It must also be kept from the Empress.

Violators are to be killed!

I'll obey your orders.

I will be sure to keep the secret.

Old master Duan was too weak, and none of the medications worked!

We could do nothing about it.

I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!

Your Majesty, Empress has arrived.

Great blessings to Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, my imperial guards have discovered

an elderly man by the name of Duan Zhong has shown up in Chang An.

He could be Duan Hong's father.

That is indeed true.

Your Majesty knows about it?

You must have already sent your men to find him?

I have indeed found him.

This is wonderful.

We should have him brought to the palace quickly

to wait to be reunited with Duan Hong.

I can also see him and thank him for offering food to us when we were young.

That's not necessary.

He is already dead.

What? Dead?

All these years, he has been wandering across the nation.

He was mentally and physically exhausted by the search for his wife and son.

He has had bronchial cancer for years.

He knew that he did not have much longer to live

so when he got to Chang An, he was already burnt out.

Your Majesty knows so many details.

Could it be...

I found Duan Zhong a while ago and had him settled in.

I had imperial physicians look after him around the clock.

Did Your Majesty notify Duan Hong?

Duan Hong is loyal and patriotic.

He disregards his own life for the sake of the nation.

I will definitely reward and compensate Duan Hong for his hard work and loss.

I will never mistreat him.

Does Your Majesty think that titles and wealth can compensate

for the loss of a reunion with one's father?

Before Duan Hong left the capital, his only concern was for his father.

The return of his father was his only wish.

But Your Majesty didn't tell him that you found Uncle Duan.

What should I have done then?

Send my men into Huainan and tell Duan Hong to storm past

Liu An's army to head back here?

Or should I send the dying Duan Zhong into the dangerous Huainan?

Duan Hong is now in the enemies' lands.

If he is influenced by this matter

then all the arrangements we made to outwit Liu An would be in vain.

I understand that Your Majesty cares about the nation.

But Duan Hong...

Duan Hong's identity would also then be exposed and his life would be at risk.

Even if he could make it out alive, he's been in Huainan for a long time now.

The imperial court officials have already rendered him a traitor.

If he returns without accomplishing his mission, how should I treat him?

Your Majesty took everything into account.

I am the one who hasn't thought it through carefully.

Since you see him as your older brother

you should know that if he learns of the truth

he would be caught between filial piety and loyalty.

Could you bear to do that to him?

I'd rather take on the criticism of being uncaring

than put him in a dilemma between filial duties and loyalty.

Was I wrong to do so?

You were not at fault for not notifying Duan Hong.

But why did you keep me in the dark as well?

I have already told you that Duan Zhong was too weak

to go on a journey into the palace.

But I could at least see him outside the palace

to thank him for the meal that he offered us when I was young.

I could also then carry out filial duties for Duan Hong.

If you leave the palace abruptly

isn't that announcing to everyone and Liu An

that we had been searching for a traitor's long-lost father?

That we're even taking care of him?

Did Your Majesty tell Uncle Duan that his son is loyal, kind, and brave?

That he is serving at the imperial court and serving the nation?

I could only act cautiously.

Your Majesty's cautiousness made a desperate old man die in loneliness.

Even his son's achievements...

He didn't even know if his son was dead or alive.

You pity if an old man died in peace...

but you wouldn't try to understand

how difficult it was for your husband...

to make such a decision.

You're asking me for money again?

I only asked them to spread a few rumors!

How is that worth thousands of gold?

Princess and I have just reconciled.

But now this bloodsucker is out to get me.

I will not be controlled by them!

But they threaten to tell Princess about the truth if you won't pay up.

The truth?

Tell them that even if they were instigated by me in the first place

they were the ones that spread

the rumors of the Princess and Wei Qing.

Princess!

How dare you, Xia Hou Po!

You're the one who made up all the rumors!

What have you done to me?

How could you be so vicious?

I did it all out of my love for you.

Love?

How dare you even say that without any shame?

You're not fit to say that!

What is the love that you talk about?

It is framing me!

You made Wei Qing and I bear the criticisms of so many!

Wei Qing, Wei Qing...

All you care about is Wei Qing!

How dare you still say that!

The affair between Wei Qing and me is just a rumor that you made up!

Back then, you accused me of meeting Wei Qing in private.

I even examined myself, had I had done anything suspicious?

It turns out that these are all rumors that you made up!

You purposely wanted to make me look bad!

Can you blame me for that?

Before Cao Shi died and before I met you

there were already rumors of the both of you throughout Chang An!

'Marquess dies and the lovers reunite.'

Those are all words of slander!

But there had to be something behind it.

If I didn't do that, would I have won you over?

You mean that since my reputation was tainted

you could make it even worse and it wouldn't matter?

What kind of a person are you?

Do you know that it is death penalty for colluding with relatives

to overthrow the emperor?

If His Majesty hadn't trusted in me

not only would you have been unable to have me

but you would have also made me lose my life!

But aren't you safe and sound now?

Aren't you and His Majesty still close siblings?

You keep finding excuses.

All of these excuses just expose how despicable you are.

From the very beginning, you've been plotting against me.

You knew that I dote on Xiang Er, so you went in search of a great tutor.

You knew that I dote on my brother, so you offered army provisions to him.

I thought that you were sincere.

I had wanted to devote my affection to you.

But in fact, I had fallen for your tricks!