Nirvana in Fire: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin (Nirvana in Fire 2 / 琅琊榜之风起长林)

Mother, you seem frail.

Do you feel sick?

It's nothing serious.

I saw your uncle again in my dreams last night.

It wasn't even three in the morning when I woke up.

I couldn't fall asleep again.

Mother, do rest assured that I'll make Eastern Sea State pay for Uncle's death.

Every year during this period

my older brother was bound to be busy preparing for the emperor's Spring Hunt.

But now...

We're separated by death.

The journey to the netherworld stretches far.

My heart feels the void.

I don't wish to go anywhere.

Mother, you mean...

My son...

Order the Ministry of Rites to cancel Spring Hunt this year.

Yes.

Good.

I heard you.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Formerly, all work reports of the Royal Palace Guards

were submitted to the cabinet to be reviewed.

Now that Old Master Xun has passed away, it will be handed over to...

Head of the Legislative Bureau and the Ministry of War.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

The Royal Palace Guards belong to a different system.

They must be managed apart from the border-guardian army

militia troops, and frontier army.

This is an ancestral regulation.

It's inappropriate for the Ministry of War to take over.

I'll hand it over to...

The cabinet and Prince of Laiyang.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Minister Shen.

Present.

My mother has been feeling unwell recently.

We'll cancel this year's Spring Hunt on Mount Jiu'an

according to her wishes.

Please forgive me for being slow-witted.

Empress Dowager means to...

Ever since my maternal uncle passed away

my mother hasn't been feeling well.

She isn't fit enough to travel.

After we cancel next month's Spring Hunt

none of you will have to prepare for any events.

Your Majesty, I think that--

Enough!

This is Empress Dowager's royal decree.

Moreover, I'm also not in the mood for it.

Therefore, there's no need for any further discussion.

- Yes. - Yes.

The position of the Cabinet Minister must be filled.

Indeed.

All the reports...

Minister.

Master, the Spring Hunt has been called off just like that?

His Majesty announced it himself.

Empress Dowager wanted to cancel it.

What else can we do about it?

Your Highness.

Greetings, Empress Dowager.

Get up.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Prince of Laiyang, what brings you to the palace today?

How is An Ru?

Thank you for keeping her on your mind.

An Ru's illness varies from time to time.

She's also very anxious about it.

She's worried that she might not recover before the Spring Hunt

to attend to Your Highness on the journey.

I've already told His Majesty

that Cabinet Minister was assassinated in January

and the funeral just ended.

How could we be in the mood to travel in such gloominess?

Tell An Ru to recuperate well.

There will be no Spring Hunt this year.

His Majesty already mentioned it to the Ministry of Rites.

I've come here today on behalf of all the officials

to ask Empress Dowager to reconsider this decision.

It's up to His Majesty to decide on the Imperial Clan's hunting trip.

Why should this be of any concern to the officials?

Your Highness should know

that the Spring Hunt is a ritual for Great Liang's Imperial Clan

not an excursion.

It's to pray for the growth of all living creatures

the valiance of our descendants, and peace at the frontier.

As Your Highness has said

there's been a sense of insecurity in the Inner Court and Imperial Court.

All the more reason we should offer sincere prayers to the gods.

If we were to cancel this ritual

it might be harmful to the sovereignty.

Therefore, the Ministry of Rites is too terrified to accept the decree.

It's not a trivial matter for His Majesty to take a trip.

Without a Cabinet Minister to manage the trip

I simply can't put my mind at ease.

Your Highness, you're overly concerned.

During His Majesty's Spring Hunt, he will have the Imperial Guards to defend him

and the officials staying behind on duty will follow the precedent procedure.

When Cabinet Minister was alive

I assisted him in making the arrangements.

I was complimented by Master Xun then.

Your Highness, please rest assured.

For the sake of Master Xun resting in peace

I'll be sure to do my best in making arrangements for His Majesty.

My brother did compliment you to me, saying that you're meticulous.

Whenever I see that An Ru has had little to eat or say

it's like a dagger to my heart.

I can imagine how much sorrow Your Highness must be in.

His Majesty must be even more upset than I am to see you like this.

If Your Highness could leave the capital and lift your spirits slightly

His Majesty would at least feel much more comforted.

He wouldn't worry about your health as much.

Although what you just said is very reasonable

I can't help but feel frantic for some unknown reason.

During such times, it's better to stay put than take action.

His Majesty should stay in the palace.

Your Highness.

Spring Hunt is an event set up by the ancestral code.

When I married into the Imperial Clan

your mother was still in Eastern Sea State.

Prince of Laiyang, where did you learn such manners

to bring up the ancestral code in my Xian'an Palace?

I wouldn't dare!

During the reign of Emperor Wu Jing and the former emperor

Spring Hunt was canceled for certain reasons.

Not once did I hear this many objections.

What is it?

His Majesty isn't allowed to cancel it?

The officials didn't mean to imply that.

That's good.

I have made up my mind.

This matter need not be discussed again.

Yes, Your Highness.

If I don't make it back, our king will come looking for me!

Spring Hunt is canceled for certain.

I'm afraid we'll have to change our plans.

Your Highness...

Should we wait till next year...

No!

The secret to planning is secrecy, and severing ties serves a purpose.

In a year's time, who knows how much will have changed?

We can't wait.

If we are to raise the rebellion here in the capital

it's unclear if we can succeed.

General, if you've now changed your mind

I can totally understand.

Your Highness, since I decided to follow Your Highness in this rebellion

I knew that I was putting my life at risk.

Why would I give up in the face of difficulties?

Having General Di at my side

I'm fearless even if we have to put up a bloody fight in the palace.

I thank Your Highness for your trust.

I'm willing to sacrifice my life in gratitude for your graciousness.

Please give orders, Your Highness.

All right. General, I'll have to trouble you.

Before Chaoyang Hall announces the decree

deploy the army into the capital in the name of the Spring Hunt.

I'll welcome General's Palace Guards at the city walls of Jinling.

70,000 Palace Guards will enter the capital unnoticed.

When Xiao Yuan Shi wakes up the next day

Your Highness's army will be right next to his bed.

Once you enter the capital

Metropolitan Governor Office's guards will be subdued by the Patrol Force.

There's no need to worry about the civil officials either.

The key lies in how to trap the Imperial Guards in the city.

The Imperial Guards might be powerful

but it isn't entirely impossible to split them up

and keep them under our control.

Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, Tang Feng Zhi

can collaborate with us from within his division.

General, you'll announce a false decree and then kill their leading commander.

Get Deputy Commander Tang to summon all senior officers

to the Imperial Guards' Office and have them wiped out.

Finally, the sealed palace will serve as a prison to them

and we can control all four divisions of the Imperial Guards.

Yes.

If Spring Hunt is really canceled

Prince of Laiyang won't be able to carry out his plan.

He's just not making his move at Mount Jiu'an.

He can still take action in the capital.

It's just a matter of time.

Men... Once they have such an intention in mind...

how can they change so easily?

If they are to take action in the capital

he'll need more time to make the arrangements.

Then, we...

We'll have some time to seek reinforcements.

Reinforcements?

The Palace Guards work for him.

The Patrol Force also works for him.

But not the Imperial Guards.

General, how can you be certain that the Imperial Guards don't work for him?

If the Imperial Guards do

why bother going to Mount Jiu'an instead of rebelling in the capital?

You're right.

The Palace Guards are at least still stationed outside the city.

The Imperial Guards were right under Master Xun's nose then.

He just died some time ago.