The Rebel Princess (上阳赋)

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Emperor’s Conquests@ Viki

The king mustn't leave the palace. (T/N: She is reciting common Chinese chess strategies)

The guards, likewise, mustn't leave the palace.

Father is the bishop who must serve by Emperor Uncle's side.

He is in the palace as well.

My little princess.

Don't trip and fall, all right?

A'wu, where is the Imperial city of Jianning?

Grandmother Empress Dowager, the imperial city is right beneath my feet.

Where is Huizhou?

The center that all roads cross and that once divided the world in two.

It's an important place for military affairs. We must not lose it.

Huizhou is right here.

Then... where is Ningshuo?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

In the north is Hulan and in the south is Liupan.

Every day, they must defend it with worries.

Ningshuo is right here.

Excellent. - Grandmother Empress Dowager, was I right?

Yes. You are right.

Empress Dowager, Senior Maidservant Xu is here to relay a message from Grand Princess.

She said that the little princess has been staying here in the palace for over twenty days now.

If she still doesn't go back to her residence, she fears that the little princess will forget about her parents and older brother.

I'm not going back, I'm not going back! Last time I returned,

I accidentally set fire to the small kitchen.

Father wanted to discipline me but I ran back to the palace overnight.

All right, all right. You won't go back! You won't go back!

Relay a message to Grand Princess Jinmin.

Just tell her that I can't bear to see her leave.

She will stay here for a few more days.

Yes.

I also feel that Princess Shangyang is a daughter of the palace.

Fengchi Palace is her true home.

Wow, so much snow!

I'm Wang Xuan, the daughter of the Wang Clan of Langya.

Mother is the only younger sister of the current emperor.

She is Empress Dowager's most beloved Grand Princess Jinmin.

Father is the Prime Minister of the Imperial Court.

Once I was born, I grew up by my maternal grandmother's side

in the Ciqin Hall of Fengchi Palace.

I grew up being endlessly pampered.

At any time, I could directly enter the palace

to play freely in the imperial garden.

I played and studied with the three princes.

Crown Prince Zilong was stubborn and mischievous.

Second Prince Zilu was weak in health, always sick, and rarely spoke.

He was always bullied by the crown prince due to his mother's concubine status.

As for Third Prince Zitan, he always gazed at me tenderly.

In my eyes, Older Brother Zitan was always the best.

Older Brother Crown Prince, come here quickly!

There's a snake in here! Older Brother Crown Prince, come quickly!

He's coming! He's coming. - Stop running. Where's the snake?

Who told you to bully people again.

Let's run, quick.

Paternal Aunt entered the palace to be the "Mother of the world."

She became the twelfth empress from the Wang Clan.

I was then conferred as Princess Shangyang.

My status is more respectable than my older brother's, who is my blood-related sibling.

Only those who are close to me may call me by my given name.

Little Princess. - A'wu. - Slowly, slowly.

Don't trip and fall.

Stop running! Stop running!

Emperor Uncle, hurry and hide me.

Come under here and hide.

Come here. A'wu, what trouble did you cause once again?

The imperial garden is frozen and cold.

I merely wanted to trip a snow rabbit for fun.

I didn't mean to trip the crown prince.

I'm afraid of being scolded by Auntie and Older Brother Crown Prince.

Hence, I can only hide here with you Emperor Uncle.

Rabbit?

Would there be any rabbits in the palace?

If you harm Empress Dowager or the empress,

it is of no use hiding here.

The empress has arrived!

Hurry and hide.

Don't let the empress find you.

Your Majesty.

A'wu already told me. They are just children fooling around.

Crown Prince is the older brother so he should, naturally, yield to her.

Just forget about this incident.

Look at what you are saying.

A'wu is also my older brother's only daughter.

I cannot cherish her enough.

How could I possibly punish her for such a trivial matter?

From when I was a child to when I became a young lady,

I was like a flower caged in by a canopy,

beloved by all.

But I didn't know that,

beyond the canopy, are the nine provinces of our world.

The family and empire that I was once proud of

had been utterly decadent since long ago leading to uprisings everywhere.

In the eighth month of the 15th year of the Yuanxi era,

countless generals in the far west

resisted all enemies outside Hulan and the important land of Ningshuo.

There were bloodbaths, sorrows, and heroism.

At the same time, my beautiful coming-of-age ceremony (T/N: Time when a girl reaches the age of 15)

was being held in the Taiji Hall in the imperial city of Jianning.

It would lead to another wave of bloodbaths and smoke.

Perhaps, everything changed starting from that moment.

No... Nothing has ever changed.

It's just that the carefree princess grew up

and was finally being dragged into a tragic chess game.

Princess Shangyang's coming-of-age!

Begin the ceremony!

Grand Princess Jinmin, please.

My little A'wu has finally grown up.

At this auspicious time, dressed in adult clothing,

one must begin to act respectfully,

virtuously, and benevolently as a lady should.

Wishing you longevity

and endless blessings.

General Wang, the princess has come of age and should be married.

Both the crown prince and third prince have shown interest.

I wonder what the wishes of those above are.

Grand Tutor Gu, this is my Wang Clan's family matter.

My older brother has his own plans.

Empress, if you please.

From this auspicious moment, you will begin to wear adult clothes

and abandon your childhood aspirations.

Princess Shangyang is definitely extraordinary. - Be benevolent and moral

It's just a pity that her surname is Wang. - and shall be respected and receive blessings.

The Wang Clan has already produced twelve empresses,

yet they still think that's not enough?

Among the clans of the world, Wang and Xie are the most respected.

Marquis Xie, if you don't give your approval,

it will be very hard for the Wang Clan to succeed.

The ceremony is complete!

Congratulations, Princess Shangyang for coming of age!

Urgent! Idle people, out of the way!

Urgent! Idle people, out of the way!

Your Majesty, when a girl comes of age, she should get married.

Since the founding of Great Cheng,

the Imperial family and the Wang Clan of Langya

have had generations of marriages, mixing our blood together.

Princess Shangyang, as the only daughter of the Wang Clan of Langya,

should conform to the familial and empire's tradition,

by marrying a descendant of the imperial family.

Today is Princess Shangyang's grand coming-of-age ceremony.

Your Majesty, why not add more joy to this already joyous event

and arrange Princess Shangyang's marriage right now?

Your Majesty, please arrange Princess Shangyang's marriage.

Your Majesty, since the founding of Great Cheng,

the Langya Wang clan has produced twelve empresses.

Princess Shangyang should undertake her clan's honor

and marry Crown Prince.

Your Majesty...Third Prince is gentle, kind,

talented, and virtuous.

He also has mutual affection and an agreement with Princess Shangyang.

Your Majesty, why not grant this pair their wish?

Your Majesty, daughters of Langya Wang clan are to be empresses.

This has never changed.

Your Majesty— - Your Majesty!

The love of a person is pure and true.

Marriage should be left to one's wishes.

A'wu.

Now that I have come of age, I am no longer a child.

What I say and do have been carefully thought about beforehand.

Red makeup and bright beautiful clothes are not what I love.

Prosperity and wealth are not what I seek.

My wish is to marry the person I love.

Your Majesty, in this great hall today,

I want— - Your Majesty!

There's an urgent report from the border.

The King of Hulan personally led a hundred thousand soldiers and horses to attack our northwest border.

Ningshuo is now in a state of emergency.

It's a military emergency; therefore, state affairs come first.

Let's discuss my daughter's marriage another time.

Father.

Heir Apparent, the princess is not willing to go to the worshipping ceremony.

Grand Princess wants you to go persuade her.

Look! Although she isn't very old, she's got quite a temper.

Your older brother and sister-in-law have specifically come to see you.

I'm just not happy. I want to be by myself.

Well, you still have to choose the right time for that.

Fine.

If you really want to get punished,

then your sister-in-law and I will stay and accompany you.

The princess, heir apparent, and the heir apparent's wife will all be punished together in the prime minister's manor.

That will be quite a spectacle.

A'wu, Mother and Father are waiting in the ancestral hall.

Let's quickly go now.

I'm not going.

Quickly. - Take your place.

A'wu, hurry and come.

Kneel.

Recite the Langya Wang Clan teachings.

"A husband's words and deeds cannot be overridden; complete trust."

"Value morals and admit wrongdoings; utterly virtuous."

"Create good reputations for the family; absolute filial piety."

"Harmony amongst siblings creates a joyous family; love and respect elder siblings."

"When it comes to wealth, do not overly give way to it."

"These are the five fundamentals."