Qin Dynasty Epic (2020): Season 1, Episode 17 - Episode #1.17 - full transcript

=Qin Dynasty Epic=

=Episode 17=

Prime Minister.

Please have some.

I'm the only one

in this palace all day.

I must find someone
to relieve your boredom.

Speaking of which,

I have such a person with me.

Come.

Call my assistant in.



Yes.

Take a look at him.

Lao Ai, greet the Queen Dowager.

I, Lao Ai,

send greetings to Queen Dowager.

His name is Lao Ai.

He saved the late king
and me before.

He's a loyal and brave man.

Is that so?

Why did you bring him

to me?

To relieve your boredom.

If you feel happy,

chat with him.



If you feel unhappy,

hit him to release your anger.

Rise.

Yes.

What can you do?

I'm good at riding horses.

Riding horses?

There are no horses in Ganquan Palace.

What else can you do?

When I was little,

I learned some circus tricks
from my mother.

Show me one.

Yes.

That's fine.

That's enough.

I deserve to die.

Prime Minister.

Bad news.

What is it?

Li Si wants to leave.

Where is he going?

He wants to leave your residence
and go back to Chu.

He has already packed his things.

I tried everything to make him stay.

I told him that no matter what happened,

he must meet you first.

Prime Minister.

Li Si is a great talent.

He must work for Qin.

Last time, he was also the one

who told me about Zheng Guo

to recommend talent

for you and for Qin.

He recommended Zheng Guo?

Li Si and Zheng Guo know each other.

Prime Minister, I'm begging you.

Meet him.

Otherwise, he'll really leave.

Based on his talent,

when he gets to Chu,

they'll surely use him well,

and he'll become

Qin's enemy.

Kill him!

We can't let him

become Qin's enemy!

Kill him.

Prime Minister, we can't kill him.

We can't!

Prime Minister.

Li Si has arrived.

Greetings, Prime Minister.

Have a seat.

Prime Minister, go ahead.

I've been busy with work for many days,

sorry for ignoring you.

No.

Your residence is huge,

the bed is comfortable,

the food is great,
and the salary is high.

It's what scholars everywhere
would want.

But that's not the reason

why I came to Qin.

You came up with the idea

for Zheng Guo's trick, right?

Building the water channel
is greatly beneficial to Qin.

Since it's a good thing,

why did you pull a trick?

If the result is good,
it's not considered a trick.

So you must fool me

and Qin's officials and citizens.

Haven't you

tricked others too?

When have I tricked others?

Mr. Yao Gu.

You must have ulterior motives

for putting Mr. Yao Gu in his position.

Mr. Yao Gu isn't
extraordinarily learned,

he's old,

and he often travels to various states.

Yet you made him

Prince Chengjiao's mentor.

You want

to delay Prince Chengjiao's studies,

and at the same time,

have someone monitored him.

Is Prince Chengjiao

that scary?

Li Si.

People who are too smart die early.

I understand.

Perhaps others

can tell,

but they just didn't say it out loud.

May I ask

if you've learned Confucianism
from Xunzi

or Legalism?

What about you, Prime Minister?

I...

I...

Legalism, Mohism, Confucianism, Taoism,

I've learned all of them.

Among the schools of thoughts,

I admire Legalism the most.

Based on what I've learned,

in Legalism, law, tactic, and power

are equally important.

In terms of the law,

orders are given to officials,

punishments are applied to commoners.

Rewards are given to those
who obey the laws,

those who disobey the laws
are punished to serve as a lesson.

This is how

a nation would become stable.

In terms of tactic,

appoint officials according to talent
and supervise them.

Spare, kill, give
and take to drive people.

This kind of king would
surely have authority.

In terms of power,

the king uses his power

to make his officials
and citizens submit to him,

letting them execute his orders

and not harbor disloyalty.

If a leader doesn't have tactic,
he will easily be fooled.

If a nation doesn't have laws,
it won't prosper.

If a king doesn't have power,

his officials
and citizens will be chaotic.

So if a king

governs the nation using Legalism,

with laws, tactics, and power,

he can unify the states soon.

In terms of schools of thoughts,

aside from Legalism,

none of the others

mentioned the technique of
unifying the states.

Splendid.

Marvelous.

I want to use benevolence

and Taoist ideals to govern Qin,

then conquer the six states

and unify them.

What do you think about that?

You would like to promote

benevolence and Taoist ideals.

Actually, that refers to benevolence
and filial piety.

Those are Confucianist ideals
from ancient teachings.

The Books of Rites, Songs,
Poetry, Documents

aren't contemporary works.

They've been around
for 800 or 900 years.

And these so-called ways of governance

didn't resolve

or stop conflict in turbulent times.

But in using Legalism to manage Qin
for just over 100 years,

the six states are already
awaiting their demise.

Now, instead of working on eliminating

and unifying the states,

you want to promote benevolence
and the ideology of virtues.

Won't that give the six states

some time to breathe?

Once they strengthen themselves,

when will...

When will the suffering

of their citizens end?

Words are meaningless.

Words are meaningless.

Let's see what we'll accomplish
in the future.

You're the Prime Minister.

I'm just a citizen.

How can our accomplishments

be compared to each other?

My views

are different from yours.

However,

I still want to greatly
make use of your talent.

We'll have to see

how you'll do that then.

This is an imperial edict

making you Magistrate of Zhiyang.

You can't refuse it.

A county

may not be big enough
to showcase my talent.

In Chu, Xunzi

is just

the Magistrate of Lanling.

A teacher might not be better
than his student.

A student may not be weaker
than his teacher.

Are you willing to take the position
of Secretariat

under the Chamberlain for Palace Revenues,

which manages Qin's official documents

and correspondences?

If I want to write and propound ideas,

why do I need to come to Qin?

Actually,

you already have something in mind.

Please tell me.

Come.

Zhangtai Palace.

Yes.

(Appoint Li Si as Guard)

Guard?

You'll work around His Majesty.

Whether or not His Majesty uses you

depends on your capabilities.

I'm willing to be a guard.

When I first met you,

that was already my plan.

Beside His Majesty

is where you must showcase your talent.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

I need to apologize to you.

Why do you say that?

Our political views

are very different.

If His Majesty uses me later on,

I'm afraid my views

will be different from yours,

and it wouldn't be beneficial to you.

What I want

is to recruit talent for Qin.

If it can make Qin prosperous
and its army strong,

and fulfill the previous kings' wishes

to unify the states,

so what if I need to step aside

and give way to others?

You're magnanimous.

I admire you.

There's something I want to say

that I'm not sure
if you're willing to listen.

Please tell me.

You have a great ambition,

yet His Majesty is just 15 years old.

You must think thrice about things.

Consider the citizens

and the nation

after unification

before making any decisions.

Let me boldly ask you.

In telling me that,

is it for Qin's sake

or for yours?

I don't need to hide things from you.

Over ten years ago,

when I first met the late king,

everything I did

was for my own sake

and to bring glory to my family.

After I became Prime Minister,

everything I'm thinking about

is for Qin,

for the late king's ambition,

and also for His Majesty

and Qin's officials and citizens.

I have no doubt

about what you said.

Whether the journey to unification

is quick or slow,

we won't be able
to reach a conclusion today.

If we get another chance someday,

I would like to discuss it
with you again.

Okay, let's do that another day.

Prime Minister.

Even if you punish me,

I must still say it.

You can't let Li Si

work with His Majesty.

Why?

Li Si is very ambitious.

We must guard against him.

Even if Li Si assumes a high position
in the future,

he won't give you a hard time.

Prime Minister, I...

I'm not saying this for myself.

Li Si...

You don't know
what Li Si's intentions are.

We can't be sure about him.

Li Si came to Qin as a talented scholar

because he wants to
accomplish great things.

He needs my help in doing so.

Why will he go against me?

If he can really help His Majesty

become the king of the unified states,

I want that more than anything.

Pour away the water.

Scram!

Queen Dowager, I deserve to die!

I deserve to die!

Scram!

(Whether it's hatred towards Lv Buwei)

(or loneliness,)

(in doing what she pleases this time,)

(the fall of Zhao Ji has begun.)

Be careful.

What are you doing?

Lao Ai, Prime Minister has orders.

You committed a grave crime.
You must be imprisoned immediately!

It's a misunderstanding.

Prime Minister,
we brought him here already.

Kneel down!

Prime Minister.

Lao Ai.

Someone reported that
you've once committed a grave crime

and sentenced to be castrated.

But you escaped,

hid in my residence,

and kept that from me.

Do you admit your crime?

Prime Minister,
that's a wrongful accusation.

How bold!

You still won't admit your crime.

Even if you saved my life,

I won't condone you.

Based on your sentence,

you will become a eunuch

and will be sent to the palace.

Prime Minister,
I don't want to be a eunuch!

Shut his mouth, take him away!

Prime Minister,
I don't want to be a eunuch!

Prime Minister!

Take him away!

I don't want to be a eunuch!

Prime Minister!

Don't make any moves.

Wait.

What crime did he commit?

He's a criminal
who escaped his castration sentence.

Now, someone reported him.

Prime Minister has orders

to send Lao Ai to the palace
for his sentence.

There must be a misunderstanding.

Let me go ask Prime Minister.

Don't interfere

with the palace affairs.

Get the criminal on the horse carriage.

I still need to report to the palace.

Yes.

Take him away.

Let's go.

(Zhangtai)

Si.

From now on,

I hope you can fulfill your ambition.

Use your unparalleled talent

to accomplish merits
for thousands of generations.

This place will be your starting point.

The world

will be your stage.

I still need your assistance

in the future.

I'm willing to help.

I want to see Queen Dowager!

I'm begging you.

Bring me to Queen Dowager.

Bring me to Queen Dowager.

Queen Dowager!

No!

Don't worry.

It won't hurt.

Those eunuchs were
just trying to scare you.

Look at how scared you are.

Greetings, Queen Dowager.

Rise.

Yes.

(Qin)

Li Si.

From now on,

you're a guard.

Guards

(Qin)
are His Majesty's protectors.

(Qin)
You must stand guard

for His Majesty.

You must risk your life

to protect His Majesty.

From now on,

guard the side hall.

(Qin)

Stand properly.

Look at you.

You haven't been trained before.

(Qin)
Go and run around the yard.

Don't stop

until I tell you to.

Yes.

(Qin)

Put it back up.

(Qin)

Put it back up!

Li Si.

Take that away.

(Qin)

(Zhangtai)

Mr. Shen.

I'm thinking

that Zheng is at the age

when he can study.

Please teach him what you know.

I'll surely do my best

to teach Prince Zheng.

What will you teach me daily?

At 5 a.m. daily,
practice the sword technique.

During the day,
learn writing and reading.

From various schools of thoughts,

military tactics to governance,

I'll teach you
everything you should know.

How can I become king?

The world is huge.

Your ambition

must reach the edge of the world.

You must keep in mind

the people of all states,

thousands of those lives.

That's how a king should be.

That's how Qin's king should be.

That's how the world's king should be.

Mr. Shen!

This is as far as I, Shen Yue,

can be with you.

In the future,

you can only rely on yourself.

Sir.

You can't die.

My lord.

Remember what you should do.

I remember.

I remember them all.

When exactly

will Qin's moon

shine through the windows

of every household?

Dong'er.

Your Majesty,
what are you thinking about?

Dong'er, look.

The moon is so beautiful.

I wonder why

I would often think about

that night in Handan

when we had to hide
since they were trying to kill us.

Even if our lives were in danger daily,

things were so realistic back then.

Are you thinking about Mr. Shen Yue?

Yes.

I think of him every second.

I want to tell him

that I'm the King of Qin now.

I also want his advice

on how to be a good king.

Don't you have godfather?

Prime Minister is clever and capable.

He's loyal to you.

Can't he

give you advice and share your worries?

I know

that godfather wants what's best for me.

It's just that...

It's just that what?

It's just that I don't want

to become a king who does nothing.

Then what will you do?

I'm not sure.

If Mr. Shen Yue were here,

he'd surely

remove my confusion.

(Zhao, Handan, Prince Yan's Residence)
My lord.

My lord.

My lord!

There.

There's no need for courtesy.

You may go.

Yes.

My lord.

My lord.

Tell me, what's the situation?

His Majesty

summoned Lian Po and Mao Sui

to discuss

about Crown Prince going to Qin.

It seems like

it won't be long before you become king.

Can Mao Sui convince His Majesty?

Don't worry.

Since he's already

on our side,

he can't back out now.

His only option

is to do his best

to let Crown Prince go to Qin.

Based on how good he is with words

and the tricks up his sleeves,

he'll surely succeed.

I didn't expect

that even if Mao Sui was incredible,

we were able to trap him.

Guo Kai.

You're smart indeed.

Thank you, My lord.

No. Thank you, Crown Prince.

I, Guo Kai,
will only follow Crown Prince.

Let's go to Madam's

to celebrate.

Yes.

Tell me.

They want our Crown Prince
as hostage in Qin.

What is the motive

of Qin?

General, you're the acting Chancellor.

You go first.

I think

that we shouldn't be afraid of
Qin's motives.

If Qin's army comes to attack us,

we can surely resist them.

You mean

that if we don't send Crown Prince
to Qin,

they will send troops here.

Asking Crown Prince to go to Qin

is just Qin's excuse
for sending their troops.

You mean

that since the five states
collaborated against Qin,

they're holding a grudge,

so they intentionally asked Crown Prince
to go to Qin.

They knew that
His Majesty wouldn't agree,

and they'll use that as an excuse
to send troops to attack us.

Exactly.

Then let Qin's troops come.

What are we afraid of?

Father.

Don't be angry.

I...

I am willing to go to Qin

to help our nation.

Your Majesty.

We can't allow that.

Crown Prince is the heir to the throne.

(Zhao's General, Li Mu)
Holding him hostage in Qin

is a great embarrassment to Zhao.

Li Mu is right.

Your Majesty, Qin just wants

to attack Zhao.

Whether Crown Prince goes to Qin or not,

we must still battle with them.

I'll surely make them come
and unable to return.

What are we afraid of?

Your Majesty.

Qin is very ambitious.

They have long wanted
to conquer the states.

Zhao and Qin have battled
for many consecutive years.

Countless soldiers have died.

Our food storage is empty.

In four years,

three Kings of Qin have died.

And they have a young king now.

Qin's imperial court must be chaotic.

This is a good opportunity for us.

I think we should use this time

to recover

and strengthen ourselves.

Don't infuriate Qin,

and let Zhao

be in danger again.

Father, let me go there.

If I can

solve your worries

and avoid a calamity for Zhao,

it'd be worth it even if I die in Qin.

Your Majesty.

General, Minister.

I just returned from Qin.

I know a few things about the affairs
in Xianyang.

The King of Qin is young.

However, he and his officials' ambition
to unify the states

didn't lessen.

Prime Minister Lv Buwei

is stabilizing the government
and developing farming.

Their citizens are also willing
to fight in battles.

We shouldn't become enemies with Qin.

In my opinion,

they might be asking Crown Prince
to go to Qin

for talks of reconciliation,

and it's not an excuse
to battle with us.

Otherwise,
they wouldn't have used Yao Gu as envoy.

Yao Gu?

Yao Gu is a fourth-generation official.

He has greatly contributed to Qin.

Qin won't disregard

his safety and prestige.

So we can see their sincerity

in sending him as envoy.

In that case,

Crown Prince can go to Qin.

To Zhao,

Qin is like cancer.

To cure this disease,

we must strengthen our body.

To strengthen our body,

why can't we take

some bitter medicines?

(Chang Nv)

This is all thanks to your

and Guo Kai's idea.

Here's a toast to you two.

My lord.

If His Majesty writes an imperial edict

to make Crown Prince Yi go to Qin
as hostage,

in the future,

the Crown Prince's position

will be yours.

Here.

I'll toast to you again.

You...

If I become king,

you'll be Prime Minister.

Thank you, Mas...

Thank you, Crown Prince.

I won't go back on my word.

My lord, drink some more.

All right.

I'll drink.

Splendid.

Marvelous.

Wonderful.

Ying Zheng doesn't know anything.

He wants Zhao Yi to go to Qin.

He didn't think

that if I

become king,

I'll immediately send troops
to attack Qin.

Back then in Handan,

even if he didn't die,

I want him

to suffer much more than that.

He'll lose his throne first,

then he'll lose his life.

Crown Prince is brilliant.

Crown Prince is brilliant.

My lord, I have something to report.

What is it?

A eunuch came to tell you

to go to the palace to see His Majesty.

Father is summoning me?

Yes.

My lord.

My lord.

They must have reached a conclusion.

His Majesty

must rely on you from now on.

That's why he's asking you to go

and get closer to you.

My lord, go.

These foods and wine will be here

when you return.

Right.

After you return,

we'll continue celebrating.

Prepare the carriage!

Yes.

♪I remember the cold wind last night,
look at the world♪

♪It's boundless and vast♪

♪Each year is sad and very tumultuous♪

♪Military exercises at the plateaus,
horses drinking by the Yangtze River♪

♪Communicating the unification
of the country♪

♪Brandishing the safety of the world♪

♪The land was given to officials for
500 years, lives flourished and decayed♪

♪Ruined structures, sorrows, heroes'
tears, I must have great ambition♪

♪In the vast mountains and rivers,
the weather keeps changing♪

♪Bring peace to the world, build a
new universe, be like the sun and moon♪

♪Armed for battle,
the soldiers are unstoppable♪

♪A land consumed by war,
the beginning of the king's law♪

♪Follow the footsteps of
our ancestors and martyrs♪

♪A great nation's
iron-willed representative♪