The Night of the Ming Empire - Storms Coming

This film (drama)Also known as大明帝国之夜来风雨，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2007Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin/Cantonese，Current Douban rating7.5(For reference only)。

At the end of the Hongzhi era during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, the ailing emperor urgently summoned the crown prince to the palace to pass on the throne. However, the crown prince Zhu Houzhao was nowhere to be found in the Eastern Palace. Instead, the crown prince's uncle, Prince Ning Zhu Chanhao, took advantage of the situation to break into Xiaozong's chamber and unleashed his schemes. The young empress and the minister Li Dongyang all had their own plans, and battles to the death ensued in the palace, seemingly triggered by the crown prince's disappearance. The question remained: where had the crown prince gone? In fact, he was just fooling around with a group of rascals at a remote inn. In a drunken revelry, he coincidentally encountered the renowned Wang Yangming, who was in seclusion, and his junior apprentice Lou Yixian. Their clash disrupted the crown prince's good situation, and Wang Yangming even injured the crown prince. Would the crown prince let it go so easily? What kind of fate did they then develop? From start to finish, the silent eunuch Liu Jin seemed of lowly status; what relation did he have with the fate of the Ming dynasty? The palace struggles paused dramatically when Emperor Xiaozong unexpectedly revived from the brink of death. However, his already suspicious nature intensified, and in a fit of rage, he even drew his sword to kill his own son, doing so without mercy. The crown prince faced death calmly, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery. What kind of grievances could lead to such an irreconcilable conflict between father and son? Xiaozong was determined to eliminate his kin for the sake of the country; the blood-stained sword advanced step by step towards the crown prince. Empress Zhang and the ministers risked their lives to save him, only inciting more of Xiaozong's fury. He ordered the soldiers of the Shenji Camp to intercept them, and as everyone saw the hopelessness of the situation, someone suddenly shouted: "The crown prince is innocent." Xiaozong was at once surprised, delighted, and enraged. Who dared to provoke imperial wrath and save his flesh and blood from the emperor’s blade? It turned out to be Liu Jin, who held no power in the Eastern Palace. Despite Liu Jin being eloquent, how could he deceive the keen-eyed Emperor Xiaozong? In this critical moment, three words from Liu Jin changed everyone's fate: Wang Yangming. On the peak of the Sage, Wang Yangming and his junior apprentice Lou Yixian were engaged in reading, painting, and farming, reflecting a pastoral scene. However, Liu Jin arrived, carrying a wooden plaque from the East Palace, seeking to invite Mr. Wang Yangming down the mountain. For it was said that aside from Mr. Yangming, no one else could teach the crown prince. If the crown prince lacked a capable teacher, he was unworthy of being a crown prince, let alone an emperor. Inviting Mr. Yangming down was Xiaozong’s last hope; if Yangming did not descend, the crown prince would undoubtedly perish. Liu Jin, a submissive servant, seemed unlikely to persuade Mr. Yangming, yet he succeeded and even became a disciple of Lou Yixian. After all, Yangming carried exceptional knowledge, and deep down, there were many unresolved past entanglements. Yangming faced bandits upon descending the mountain, and Liu Jin was captured but encountered Prince Ning, who was the very prince that intruded upon Xiaozong's chamber during his illness. Yangming, Lou Yixian, and Prince Ning soon found themselves in a confrontation, only to discover that each was not only a formidable opponent but also a lifelong confidant. The brutal struggle between them thus commenced. Furthermore, the scholar-official group led by Li Dongyang strongly opposed Yangming’s entrance into the court, making Yangming face numerous enemies. While he avoided attacks from Li Dongyang and the other officials, he responded calmly to Xiaozong's harshness, but how could the crown prince’s rebellious nature change? Yangming knew the gravity of the situation and could only follow the flow. Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao was not an ordinary person. With constant troubles, Yangming devised clever strategies to solve numerous problems, observing that the bond between the crown prince and himself was growing closer. However, unexpected turmoil arose as Lou Yixian, who had once been like a sibling to Yangming, became infatuated with Prince Ning. This made it impossible for Yangming to mend the pain inflicted upon his heart. At the same time, the medically skilled Prince Ning had already administered slow-acting poison to both Xiaozong and the crown prince. Fearing his end was near, Xiaozong had a long talk with Yangming late at night, entrusting him with the responsibility of the nation. Yangming generously promised, but with Xiaozong’s sudden demise, the covert struggle between him and Prince Ning turned into open conflict. On their wedding night, Lou Yixian learned the truth and found that the Prince Ning she had yearned for was so villainous. In her sorrow, she fervently urged Ning to abandon his ambitions, and with no choice left, he decided to forsake the throne and take her back to their fief in Jiangxi, leading to Yangming and Lou Yixian’s farewell. After much hardship, Yangming eventually assisted the crown prince in ascending the throne, adopting the era name Zhengde, which would later belong to Emperor Wu. Liu Jin, who had by now become Yangming's half-friend, was satisfied, waiting to share in the prosperity and power with Yangming. However, it was not Yangming's purpose to descend for this. Since a past friend could become a stranger, why couldn't today's stranger become tomorrow’s arch-enemy? Fortunately, the war-hardened Wang Anhua was then stationed in the capital, both to demonstrate power to the court and seek opportunities to forcibly topple the young Emperor Wuzong. With a significant enemy at hand, Liu Jin temporarily restrained Yangming. For only Yangming's intelligence and altruism was a powerful weapon against the foes. Yangming, Wuzong, Wang Anhua, Liu Jin, the young Empress Dowager, the court officials, and all those around them were drawn into this fight for survival, each one countering the other with brilliant moves. Ultimately, Wang Anhua fell at Wuzong's sword. Yet, Yangming's beloved student, Hu Po, also unfortunately fell victim to a scheme, leading to Liu Jin, who was hiding in the shadows, both amazed and fearful of Yangming's incredible wisdom. The most concerning aspect was that Wuzong's trust in Yangming had directly threatened Liu Jin's safety. Thus, upon the weakening of his opponent, Liu Jin could not wait to strike against Yangming. At this moment, Liu Jin had toppled Li Dongyang and the three regents left by Xiaozong, seizing control over the East and West Chanceries, making it seem as if everything were in his grasp. At this time, Wuzong showcased an even more flamboyant personality, taking bizarre actions—a unique presence among emperors in five thousand years. Yangming found no way forward, nor could he retreat; Wuzong had grown displeased with Yangming's words, and having lost the emperor's support, Yangming faced demotion, flogging, and exile to Guizhou. Even Shengr Peak was ordered by Liu Jin's East Factory to be purged. Yangming fell into the lowest valley of his life; during his exile, the East Factory relentlessly pursued him. Had it not been for a kind-hearted female thief, who saved Yangming amidst the snow, he would have met only death. What Yangming did not know was that the female thief, Xue, wanted to approach Emperor Wuzong by saving him. She understood the deep bond between Yangming and Wuzong, knowing that sooner or later, she would have a chance to get closer to Wuzong. With Yangming's character, only Wuzong could betray him; how could he betray Wuzong? That would negate Xiaozong's favor. It seemed Yangming faced enemies on all sides, but unbeknownst to him, he and Xue developed deep feelings for each other amidst the turmoil. Yet, the East Factory’s hunting had never ceased. Pursued to Jiangxi, in a critical moment, Lou Yixian sacrificed herself, and out of desperation, Prince Ning personally led cavalry to rescue them. Yangming and Lou Yixian met after a long separation, filled with emotion. Yangming relied on his former enemies to save his life, feeling unbearable inner pain. Meanwhile, Xue became jealous upon seeing Yangming and Lou Yixian's closeness. Indeed, Prince Ning had never ceased harboring ambitions of rebellion. In Yangming's troubles, Ning formally and strategically sought to bind him. National affairs, kinship, and love all intertwined, placing Yangming at a crossroads. On the other hand, the young Empress Dowager wholeheartedly protected Yangming, navigating between Liu Jin and Wuzong. Wuzong frequently criticized the young Empress, while she merely joked about the continuous absurdities. All seemed to engage in a fierce battle of wits, and Yangming finally arrived at his banishment in Guizhou. Liu Jin orchestrated the early rebellion of Prince Ning while simultaneously transferring Yangming to Jiangxi, ordering local officials to disregard his command. Yangming faced the clever predicament: either join Prince Ning and lose his honor, or resist and face death. How could Yangming evade such a scheme? With great wisdom and courage, he unexpectedly captured Prince Ning alive while Lou Yixian chose to self-immolate. Liu Jin's plan was thwarted, yet he played on Wuzong’s curiosity, ordering Yangming to release the already imprisoned Prince Ning. If Yangming disobeyed, Wuzong would kill him; but if he complied, he would be left with the stigma of secretly releasing a traitor—a fate he could hardly escape. Another layer of complicated schemes trapped Yangming. With keen insight, he barely escaped one disaster. Yangming, Liu Jin, Wuzong, and Xue finally met. Tension grew between Xue's feelings and her resentment towards Yangming's previous relationship with Lou Yixian. Liu Jin used the East Factory to ascertain all details, inciting Wuzong to betroth Yangming and Xue. With that, Yangming would undoubtedly fall into the role of a murderous conspirator against the emperor, leading to inevitable death. On the day of their marriage, Xue's assassination plot failed and she died in Yangming's arms. Faced with both old and new grievances, Yangming could only feign madness at a critical juncture. Surprisingly, Wuzong spared Yangming, for it turned out, absurdity did not equate to foolishness; Wuzong understood the underlying dynamics. From then on, Yangming found himself without any kin in this world. He comprehended all too well that with his gentleman's sword, he could never defeat Liu Jin. For Wuzong could never do without Liu Jin, who was not just loyal but held infinite affection for the emperor. Who said that villains lacked feelings? Since the gentleman’s sword could not harm Liu Jin, Yangming considered using cunning instead. Yet, who was Wang Yangming? How could he forsake the most precious integrity and character of his life? Abandoning these would leave him with only an empty shell, a fate that was a hundred times harder than losing his life! Where should Mr. Yangming go from here?