General and I (A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to Be Appreciated / 孤芳不自赏)

At first, when we set out, the willows were fresh and green.

Now, when we shall be returning

the snow will be falling in clouds.

Long and tedious will be our marching.

We shall hunger; we shall thirst.

Our hearts are wounded with grief.

And no one knows our sadness.

Ping Ting, are you all right?

Let me take a look.

Here, Zui Ju.

Why would the string break for no reason?

Miss Bai.

This zither must not have been played in a long time.

A broken string isn't that serious.

Exactly.

It must be too cold these days.

Your skin dries up and cracks easily.

I'll make you top-quality hand cream some other day

to keep your hands moisturized.

Retreat!

- Retreat! - Retreat!

- Quickly! - Retreat!

- Attack! - Attack!

Your Highness, get some rest.

Here.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

There's no trace of Bai Lan State's army within a 50-mile radius.

Could they have found out about Liang State's ambush?

This won't do.

If they were informed in advance

or if it's simply a trap

Bai Lan State's army can no longer be trusted.

Send a messenger dove to ask for reinforcements.

Judging by Liang State's current armed forces and power

we will need at least 100,000 men within three days.

Yes!

Both of you are so pretty.

Here.

- Your Majesty. - Here.

- Here. - All right.

Here, drink with me.

Your Majesty, lie down now.

- Drink with me. - Your Majesty.

- Your Majesty - Here.

Drink!

Here, let's drink!

Here.

- Good. - Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, urgent military news!

- Your Majesty. - Drink.

- Fill it up. - Your Majesty.

- Drink. - Bastard!

Can't you see that His Majesty is busy?

Whatever it is, you can report tomorrow.

Yes.

Here, drink some as well.

Your Majesty!

Come here!

Come over here.

- Here I come. - Come here.

Good!

Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty. - Here..

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

Is anyone there?

- His Majesty has fainted! - Anyone?

His Majesty has fainted!

Anyone there?

Is anyone out there?

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

Your Highness, please spare us!

That's enough! Stop making such a din!

If His Majesty is unharmed

the lot of you will just be banished to Cold Palace.

Should any mishap befall His Majesty

you can get ready to be buried along with him!

Your Highness, please spare us!

It's so annoying! Drag them out!

- Yes! - Yes!

Your Highness!

- Get up now. Move along. - Your Highness, spare us!

Your Majesty! Your Highness please spare us!

Your Highness, the chancellor is here.

After the queen died, that fatuous king took so many concubines.

Not only has he not died from the azoth

but he spends his days fooling around with women.

He still hasn't conferred me as the queen yet

and he created such a huge scandal here in Fangqin Hall.

- Wait a bit longer. - Wait?

How long will you have me wait?

The azoth might take effect slowly

but the best thing about it is that it can't be detected.

As long as he keeps taking it

that fatuous king surely won't have long to live.

I might have the military power at hand

with half of all the imperial officials on our side...

but Chu Bei Jie is held in great respect in the army.

We'll have to keep His Majesty alive and use him to take out Chu Bei Jie.

News from Bai Lan State.

The show that He Xia and King of Liang put on

has forced Chu Bei Jie into a corner.

Once he's dead

both you and I can take over Great Jin with ease.

He Xia is very cunning. We can't trust him.

Father, you must be cautious.

He Xia is as good as a homeless dog.

If he and his young princess wish to rule Bai Lan State with ease

how can he do that without the assistance of Great Jin?

Should He Xia try anything naughty...

I can have him crushed with a flick of my finger.

Princess, Prime Minister Gui seeks an audience.

Lu Yi.

Fetch me those pearl earrings that Prince Consort gave me.

Yes.

Princess.

Prince Consort has such great taste.

This pair of pearl earrings is a warm glow of red, but not too much.

It lights up your face so well.

Prince Consort is so thoughtful.

But...

Your Highness, Prime Minister Gui is still waiting at the door.

Your subject, Gui Chang Qing, greets Your Highness.

What urgent matter brings you here?

Urgent military news.

The army of Liang State is already right at our city gates.

How should our army respond to it?

Your Highness, please make a decision.

Hasn't Prince Consort asked for reinforcements from Great Jin?

Since we have reinforcements from Great Jin

why should we waste our own armed forces?

Moreover, how could we defeat Liang State anyway?

The reinforcement troops from Great Jin consist of only 10,000 men.

If we don't send out our army to assist them

they will have to fight alone and remain passive in this battle.

They won't last much longer.

Moreover, the army of Jin State is not to be trusted.

In my opinion, we might as well seek a different solution.

For instance...

We could send our own people in.

That sounds good.

I think that General Gui Yan should lead our army.

He can take on the army of Liang State.

I heard that Prince Consort is a renown warrior of Yan State.

Moreover, our people have yet to witness the valiance of Prince Consort.

Therefore, I sincerely recommend Prince Consort

as the commander-in-chief to fight against Liang State

and contribute to Bai Lan State by defeating our enemies.

He will make Your Highness known to the world.

I don't know much about battles.

But I believe that Prime Minister's suggestion is good.

So, please hand military power over to Prince Consort

so that he may gather our forces soon and ride out to war.

Your Highness is referring to the tally?

This is just a temporary assignment.

Moreover, according to Bai Lan State's ancestral regulations...

the relative by marriage is not to have any military power.

How can he lead the army to war without the tally?

Prime Minister, you must be joking?

Prime Minister, Gui Chang Qing! Obey my command!

Yes, Your Highness.

Our country is in distress. Ancestral regulations can be overlooked.

I command Prime Minister to hand over the tally to Prince Consort right now.

The entire army is to assist Prince Consort in the battle.

Your Highness!

In addition, from this day forth, all state affairs

be they severe or trivial are to be discussed in court.

Except for Prince Consort

no other man is allowed into the Princess's Manor.

Your Highness...

You are deliberately picking on me.

I've known you since you were born, Your Highness!

I shall always be grateful to Prime Minister.

However, I am no longer that little girl you once knew.

I've come of age and I'm already married.

It's inappropriate for men and women to meet in private.

Prime Minister should act as a role model by showing some respect.

Fine!

Your Highness is so wise!

I, your veteran subject... obey the imperial decree.

Prince Consort, you witnessed that?

I wonder if I said it well?

You said it extremely well!

You took the military power back from Prime Minister with just a few words.

He's always using his seniority as an advantage.

It's good to teach him a lesson.

That is not it.

Prime Minister might be very domineering but he is by no means a bad person.

If it weren't to get Prince Consort a firm footing in the imperial court

I wouldn't wish to go against him either.

But when I heard that he had another solution in mind

he seemed to be implying something else.

How is there any other solution than sending out our army?

Prince Consort, there's no need to worry.

All right.

I won't worry about it.

As for you, my princess, you have a heart that is crystal clear.

No one seems bad in your eyes.

By the way, Prince Consort

are you really that confident of winning this war like you said?