Original subtitles

♪Pink hands so fine♪

♪Gold-branded wine♪

♪Spring paints green willows palace walls cannot confine♪

♪East wind unfair♪

♪Happy times rare♪

♪In my heart sad thoughts throng♪

♪We've severed for years long♪

♪Wrong, wrong, wrong♪

[Si Jin]

[Adapted from Si Jin, by Dong Tian De Liu Ye]

[Episode 22]

[Capital Administration Office]

Mr. Zhou, this way, please.

Mr. Zhen and Commandant Yu

have been waiting for you.

Please.

Mr. Zhou.

Mr. Zhou.

Mr. Zhen.

Come in, please.

After you.

Mr. Zhen, I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

It's nothing worth mentioning.

Have a seat.

Mr. Zhou has an imposing presence

and extraordinary charisma.

How "infuriating."

Pour the liquor.

Mr. Zhen,

what is the meaning of this?

We were rather rude last night.

Commandant Yu and I have

specially prepared this meal

to apologize.

I appreciate it.

A toast to you.

I come from a military background,

so I am not well-versed

in bureaucratic etiquette.

I ask for your understanding.

I completely understand.

Cheers!

This is obviously

just a misunderstanding

among people

of the same group.

Indeed.

Mr. Zhou.

You may not be aware.

Commandant Yu comes

from the Red Plume Cavalry of the Southern Frontier.

He only recently arrived in Ling'an

to take up his post.

No wonder his face wasn't familiar.

But with such an air

of strength and confidence,

he must be a fierce warrior.

It is our fortune to have him here.

You flatter me, Mr. Zhou.

Here's a toast to you.

This thing

is such a nuisance.

Mr. Zhen.

I must thank you.

The hard work was mainly on your part.

Cheers.

Mr. Zhou.

Take a look at this.

Isn't this your name?

[Contract signed by Zhou Yi]

Yes, that's my signature.

See?

That's my name right there.

This contract came

into my hands effortlessly.

Mr. Zhen.

Help yourself. I need to step away for a moment.

Fill my cup.

Much obliged, Mr. Zhen.

Mr. Zhou, take a closer look.

Is this your fingerprint?

Yes, that's my fingerprint.

It's embarrassing to admit.

I owed 1,000 liang in gambling debt.

They wouldn't let me leave unless I signed.

These low-life thugs' petty tricks are nothing

worth mentioning.

Commandant Yu.

Did you draw your blade to entertain us?

Go ahead, then.

Thousands

of my Red Plume Cavalry brothers

died on the battlefield,

and you signed a traitorous contract?

Mr. Yu!

Mr. Yu, please!

Watch out, Mr. Zhou!

Speak!

Watch out, Mr. Zhou!

Mr. Zhou! Mr. Zhou!

Watch out!

Mr. Zhou.

Don't be afraid.

Commandant Yu just has a short temper.

Tell us

what he wants to know.

No, no…

Speak!

I'll talk. I'll talk…

I'll talk…

I…

I owed them 1,000 liang in gambling debt.

I begged them to give me more time,

but they refused.

So they asked me

what my role would be

in this year's Mid-Autumn Hunt.

And I told them everything.

What are you doing to me?

Don't kill me!

I'll do anything!

Anything!

Anything?

Yes, anything!

[Signed by Zhou Yi]

You're from the Nightingale Sect?

After the job is done,

your debt

will be cleared,

and the contract will be returned to you.

This isn't a contract.

It's a death warrant…

It's a simple task.

Don't worry.

During His Majesty's autumn hunt,

you only need to replace all the candles

in the escort team

with the ones we provide.

Enough nonsense!

Tell me something useful!

They're from the Nightingale Sect.

I had no choice.

They said

as long as I replaced

all the candles in the escort team

with theirs,

my debt

would be cleared,

and they'd return the contract to me.

Were the candles they gave you

unable to be lit?

This lady is right.

Yes.

But I thought about it.

It didn't seem like a big deal.

His Majesty will be returning to the palace

before nightfall.

The candles wouldn't even be used.

I really don't know

what they were planning.

I noted everything

he just said.

It seems the Nightingale Sect

had already anticipated the solar eclipse

and wanted to make use of it.

This counts as strong evidence.

Mr. Zhen, you must help me.

Mr. Zhou.

Your collusion with the enemy

is indisputable.

This is a capital offense.

No, no, this can't be!

I just explained everything.

I was forced.

I've told you

everything I know.

I…

Mr. Zhou.

Maybe you'd like to think harder.

See if you can remember

something else.

Perhaps that will give me a reason

not to behead you.

Please don't talk about beheading…

Mr. Zhou.

Don't panic.

Think carefully.

If you can tell us something

even more valuable,

perhaps

Mr. Yu will spare your life.

I'll think.

I'll think right now.

Let me think.

Right!

There's a young palace maid

from the Imperial Food Service.

Her name is…

Aling!

Right. It's Aling.

Her brother

also lost money at the gambling den.

I saw her pay off his debt

to redeem him with my own eyes.

If she's part of the escort team during the hunt,

then I suspect

she'll tamper

with His Majesty's food.

Do you know how to assist

with a portrait?

Yes!

Good.

Long Dan.

Mr. Zhou.

Be careful.

I've made amends for my mistakes, right?

Please…

I'll go help with the portrait.

Hurry up!

Mind the blade…

This matter is of utmost importance.

I must report this immediately

to His Majesty.

- No. - No.

We still don't know

how many spies the Nightingale Sect

has planted within the palace

using this gambling den.

If this report is discovered,

it might force them

to change their plans.

If that happens,

it will be even harder to guard against them.

That's right.

The enemy is in the open, while we are in the shadows.

Instead of luring them out,

we should lie in wait for our chance to strike.

[Jiang]

Is that enough, Miss Qiao?

Just touching this water is already so cold.

How can you bathe in it?

You did well.

Here. Take this.

Don't tell anyone.

Now go.

Thank you, Miss Qiao.

How is she?

Miss Qiao has fallen ill with a fever from the cold.

Have her take the prescribed medicine and keep her warm.

She will recover in a few days.

Thank you, sir.

Not at all.

How did she get so sick?

This isn't even

the kind of weather to catch a cold.

I need to ask you something.

Of all times,

she had to fall ill now?

That son from the Xiao family is a walking medicine jar,

and ours is a sickly girl now too.

How can we possibly arrange a marriage like this?

It must be Xiaoxiang Garden's plot.

She's running a fever at this moment.

Who knows

if it's Madam Ruan

who has done something?

She's certainly willing to go all out.

Should we use some strong medicine

to make her recover faster?

No need.

Pick out a dress

and some jewelry.

Pick the finest ones.

As long as she's alive,

she must present

her best self at the matchmaking event.

There's no way...

Understood.

I can't sort her out.

You couldn't have thought

of a better way than to make yourself sick?

Madam Ruan.

You know what I did?

If the Xiao family sees

that I am gravely ill tomorrow,

they will surely be displeased.

If I had known

this was your plan,

I would never have let you act recklessly.

I don't want to cause trouble

and make Grandmother and Father

blame you again.

It seems

this meeting is inevitable.

Since things have come to this,

no matter what kind of man

the Xiao family's young master is,

I refuse to be entangled with him.

This is the only way I can resist.

My poor Qiao…

I have failed you.

Madam Ruan,

don't say that.

These were prepared by Madam Xiao

for Miss Qiao's matchmaking tomorrow.

Everything is of the highest quality.

Qiao is already so sick.

Why are you

still only thinking about matchmaking?

You can't say it like that.

The Xiao family is a prestigious household.

It is only

in our mansion's best interest

that Miss Qiao presents the best of herself.

It's just a fever.

With proper rest tonight,

she'll surely recover

quite a bit.

What nonsense are you saying?

Madam Ruan.

Thank you.

It's a shame Pei left so soon.

She should have seen

Mother's kindness.

We'd see if she'd still be willing

to help you.

Help?

Mother.

Things forced never turn out well.

Since Qiao is unwilling,

please, Mother, have mercy

and do not force her.

If you ask me,

Miss Pei appeared to be much more capable

when she returned this time.

I'll take my leave now.

I misjudged Pei.

I wronged her,

and I said so many things

that must have hurt her deeply.

She must have been heartbroken.

Me too.

I didn't even try to make her stay.

I thought

she was just misguided.

Looking back on it now,

she must have felt so bitterly disappointed.

They haven't arrived.

What is this?

Miss Qiao, please rest assured.

The Xiao family will not be coming.

[A letter from Xiao Shi to the Xiao family]

This is…

How can the Xiao family

fail to show up?

We waited an entire day,

and there wasn't even a single word from them!

Forget it.

We have already done our part with full sincerity.

Are we calling the arrangement off, then?

Of course.

How could we possibly form a marriage alliance

with a family that acts so conceitedly

even on the first meeting?

It's all that Xiao Shi's fault.

What kind of family did she even choose?

Father.

Please don't be angry.

Qiao, you've been through a lot these past few days.

You are still sick.

Get some rest now.

I'm leaving.

All right.

Good grief.

This is wonderful, Madam Ruan.

That reminds me. Who sent this letter?

Please wait here.

I'll bring her in.

It's finally over.

It's for the best

that this didn't work out.

Madam Ruan. Qiao.

Pei.

Pei.

It was you?

Let's sit down and talk.

So, you didn't return to your husband's family?

I stayed at an inn for a few days.

How could I come back to see you

before settling this matter?

Then what exactly did you do?

I wrote to my husband.

His family reached out

to some connections in the Xiao family

and learned when the letter would be delivered.

They told the messenger they would deliver it instead.

But in truth,

I had

the letter intercepted in secret.

Since the Xiao family never received a reply,

they assumed that our family

was not interested,

so they never came.

I owe it all to you.

I can't believe I misjudged you before.

I'm sorry, Pei.

I was so blind.

I've been reflecting on myself

these past few days.

I really was willful

and reckless.

I constantly caused trouble.

Yet you still treated me

as family.

So naturally,

I won't bear

a grudge this time.

I was also wrong.

Look at you two.

My daughters are both so good.

I didn't see things clearly in this situation.

Our Pei has grown up.

You've gotten smarter, Pei.

I was never foolish to begin with.

I must be leaving now.

I came back

to the mansion in secret to see you two.

Let's just say that day,

I returned to my husband's family in anger.

Even if one day,

the intercepted letter is discovered,

it will be difficult to trace it back to me.

And everyone will be safe.

All right. We'll follow your plan.

You must be careful.

Come back whenever you can.

Write to us.

So long as our hearts remain connected,

we will never be apart.

Here. Have a fruit.

Is this the Nanwu language?

Know yourself and know the enemy,

and you can win every battle you fight.

I believe that knowing yourself

and your enemy is the way

to win without a fight.

Why?

There is always a winner and a loser

on the battlefield.

If Zhou and Nanwu

had more people like you,

who are willing

to understand both sides,

then perhaps old grudges could be resolved,

and we could coexist peacefully.

Wouldn't that be a victory

without a battle for both sides?

You have great insight.

I've learned from you.

How's the fruit?

Try it.

You're doing well in learning to write

our Nanwu characters.

Thank you, Grand Elder.

Yu Qi only started learning the Nanwu language

after I arrived at the Southern Frontier.

How is he proficient in it already?

Forget it.

Perhaps many things

have already changed.

Tomorrow is the day

His Majesty participates in the hunt.

If Yu Qi succeeds in his plans

at the hunting grounds,

then the next step

will be to capture the Nightingale Sect with full force.

What can I do

to protect Qi and the others?

Miss Jiang.

Are you about to depart?

Yes.

Take care.

I will.

Remember the fragrance sachet

I gave Zhan the other day?

I actually made one for you too.

Let me tie it on for you.

♪Through endless twists in the mundane world♪

♪The breezy wind blows, the heart grows tender and bitter♪

♪I ask the Sun if the light has taken root♪

Done.

♪As it prospers, our love story writes itself♪

I'm off.

♪We cross paths and promise to stay together forever♪

♪The tapestry of destiny is filled with our youth♪

♪Our blissful time together will lead us to the sea of stars♪

Erniu.

Come on.

Take us to the Capital Administration Office.

Let's go.

Good dog.

Today marks the Mid-Autumn Hunt,

and His Majesty will attend in person.

The Imperial Insignia Guards

must remain at their posts

and protect the hunting grounds at all costs.

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

Today marks the Mid-Autumn Hunt,

and His Majesty will attend in person.

The Gale Guards

must remain at their posts

and protect the hunting grounds at all costs.

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

I've already had them

switch back the candles.

Now, we just need

to find that palace maid, Aling.

We must find her before the ceremony begins.

We're officials from the Capital Administration Office.

Mr. Zhen. Commandant Yu. Please enter.

Guards and attendants are not allowed inside.

You head back first.

Yes, sir.

Let's split up.

Mr. Zhao, it's been a while. I trust you've been well.

[Capital Administration Office]

[Prison]

State your purpose.

Commandant Yu has ordered this lady

to come and question Sang Qi.

According to the rules of the Capital Administration Office,

no one is permitted to enter

unless personally accompanied

by Mr. Zhen or Commandant Yu.

I was present

on the day Zhou Yi was interrogated.

So I am well aware

of Commandant Yu's plan.

I am here to interrogate Sang Qi

because there are still some details

that require further confirmation.

But…

This concerns the Mid-Autumn Hunt.

Can you afford the consequences

if something goes wrong?

Miss, this is a high-security area.

We are just doing our duty.

Please do not make things difficult for us.

Mr. Zhen and Commandant Yu

have already gone to Mount Cuiluo for the hunt.

So they sent me and Erniu here instead.

And here is

Commandant Yu's token.

[Capital Administration Office] Officers, do you still not believe me?

Erniu is trusted by Commandant Yu,

and she has the token as well.

If something does go wrong,

we can't afford to take responsibility.

Miss, please.

Thank you.

Aman, stay here with Erniu

and wait for me.

Erniu, if I call for you,

you must come running.

Look at this, everyone!

Who's this pretty little thing?

- Hey, pretty! - Hey, pretty!

Please.

Save your efforts.

I won't say a single word.

The hard way didn't work, so you're trying the soft way?

Food's ready!

Time to eat!

Si, come.

Let's eat.

Si.

Come on. Come here.

Come sit down.

Take a look.

Look what I brought you.

These are all delicacies from my hometown.

That's right.

I bet you've been craving them.

Dig in. Eat while the food is still hot.

Thank you, Qi.

Si, I noticed

you've been feeling down lately.

You must be missing home.

I figured some food from your hometown

might soothe your homesickness.

Thank you, Qi.

But

where did you get

all this food from?

Oh, these?

I "borrowed" a few Zhou chefs

to cook for us.

"Borrowed"?

Don't worry.

I'll make sure

they return unharmed,

all right?

All right.

Qi, eat with me.

Sure.

Here you go, Si.

There's a young palace maid

from the Imperial Food Service.

Aling!

[Aling]

Listen up.

Torture won't work.

And neither

will seduction.

Answer me, Sang Qi.

What plans do you have

for His Majesty's Mid-Autumn Hunt?

Plans?

We plan to send that old man Jingming to the afterlife.

If you tell me

the details of your plan,

maybe Commandant Yu will spare your life.

Never!

Zhou's lapdog!

I will never cooperate with you!

Do you really not want to live?

I came here ready to die!

But have you thought about your people?

Your seniors?

That's none of your concern!

Insolence!

You…

Sang Qi, listen to me.

I can get you out of here.

The gambling den at Tianxiang Pleasure House

has already been raided by the Capital Administration Office.

Your stronghold has been wiped out.

And the Nightingale Sect.

Your comrades.

Some are dead, and some have fled.

Only you're still here, refusing to talk.

You can't deceive me.

Tell me

where your black scorpion is.

Fine.

Keep your lips sealed.

But know this.

Sooner or later, someone else will talk.

Your plan is doomed

to fail.

Officers. Let's go.

Qi,

I want to choose

a different path this time.

If you escape,

let's never be enemies again.

Miss.

Is this handkerchief yours?

Sir.

It is not mine.

You must be mistaken.

How could I be mistaken?

I just saw you drop it.

Or did you drop it on purpose?

Look.

My handkerchief is right here.

I haven't lost it.

I clearly saw

that this handkerchief was yours.

With so many people watching,

I don't want them to think I'm harassing you.

No, it's not…

Commandant Yu.

Mr. Zhen.

This palace maid says

this handkerchief isn't hers.

Why are you still pestering her?

How am I pestering her?

I saw her drop the handkerchief.

I simply picked it up to return it.

Think about it.

If others see this,

how will she ever work in the palace again?

What about me then?

What's going on?

What are you doing?

Wasting time here?

Madam.

This official picked up a handkerchief,

and he insists that it's mine.

This is a small matter.

We can sort it out later.

This is not a small matter.

It concerns my honor.

Commandant Yu is right.

Miss, if this handkerchief

really isn't yours,

and he's using it as an excuse to harass you,

then I will not let him off.

According to Zhou's laws…

Aling.

Is this handkerchief yours or not?

Explain clearly.

Don't delay

everyone's work.

The banquet is about to start.

We must hurry over.

It's mine.

She admitted it.

I'll ask you again.

Is this really your handkerchief?

It is mine.

I was in a hurry to deliver refreshments

and didn't notice.

Madam.

She admitted it herself.

The issue is that this handkerchief

is laced with poison.

I…

This isn't mine.

My handkerchief isn't poisoned.

Just now, you said it was yours.

And now you say it isn't?

Are you hiding something?

Someone.

Search her.

What is this?

Sir, it wasn't me.

They forced me to poison His Majesty.

Sir.

Sir, I had no idea about this.

Madam.

You know what to do.

Yes, sir.

Bind her. Take her away.

Sir, have mercy!

They forced me, sir!

Please have mercy, sir!

Sir! It wasn't me! Sir!

I have broken

my principles today.

It's the first time I've ruled on a case without solid evidence.

But I believe you did the right thing.

His Majesty has arrived.

Bow.

- Long live Your Majesty. - Long live Your Majesty.

Bow again.

- May Your Majesty enjoy great health. - May Your Majesty enjoy great health.

All rise.

The winds howl fiercely.

Now is the time to display your valor

and show the gallantry of Zhou.

- Long live Your Majesty. - Long live Your Majesty.

[Capital Administration Office]

Why is the wind picking up?

Why is the wind picking up?

Why is it raining all of a sudden?

My spices!

My spices!

Aman,

this isn't rain.

It's a solar eclipse.

A solar eclipse?

Aman, what time is it now?

Just past the hour of the Horse.

Just past the hour of the Horse?

Shouldn't it be a quarter before midday?

Did I misinterpret it?

Is there a different meaning

to those words?

We miscalculated.

Yu Qi.

Please be safe.

Protect His Majesty!

Quickly! Protect His Majesty!

Protect His Majesty!

Hurry! Protect His Majesty!

Protect His Majesty!

Your Majesty, watch out!

Assassin! Seize him!

Your Majesty!

It's the solar eclipse! Light the torches!

Commandant Yu!

Your Majesty!

Hurry!

Halt.

Who are you?

Yu Qi, Commandant of the Capital Administration Office.

Summon the imperial physician.

Summon the imperial physician!

Thank you.

How is his injury?

Your Majesty.

Though Commandant Yu was protected by soft armor,

his body is already burdened with old wounds.

This attack has aggravated his past injuries.

His internal injuries are serious

and must be carefully tended to.

Otherwise,

they will never fully heal.

I'll take my leave.

Your Majesty.

Why do you still call me that?

Spare the formalities.

I shall take my leave.

Do you really think

I wouldn't even recognize

my own son?

Seventh Prince?

Yu Jin.

Every year, I have them

send back your latest portrait

from the army to the palace.

Just so I can see you more often.

Jin.

All these years,

[Yu Jin, Seventh Prince of Zhou]

I've been worried about you.

How is your injury?

Let me see.

His Majesty has arrived.

- We deserve death for our failure. - We deserve death for our failure.

- We await Your Majesty's punishment. - We await Your Majesty's punishment.

The Imperial Insignia Guards failed in their duty,

allowing an assassin to infiltrate the hunting grounds.

I am guilty beyond excuse.

The Gale Guards were late in protecting Your Majesty.

I, too, deserve death.

Your Majesty.

Commandant Yu fought

the assassin earlier.

Perhaps he noted observations.

I believe the assassin

is still here.

Your Majesty.

The Imperial Insignia Guards have already completely

sealed off the hunting grounds.

We will capture that assassin.

Your Majesty.

All court officials are forbidden

from carrying personal weapons

into the hunting grounds.

All hunting weapons

must be distributed on-site.

All of them underwent

a thorough inspection

to ensure they carried no weapons

before being allowed in.

The Imperial Insignia Guards and Gale Guards were the only exceptions.

I doubt the culprit will be found

if I leave it to either of you.

Commandant Yu, you protected me.

I entrust the investigation to you.

Your Majesty, please permit Mr. Zhen to assist me.

Permission granted.

Please pour all the water from the buckets

in front of you

onto yourselves.

Why?

Imperial Insignia Guards,

pour.

Gale Guards, pour.

When I fought

the assassin,

I crushed a fragrance pill in my hand

and struck him on the chest.

That mark becomes visible upon contact with water.

Everyone, check each other.

It...

There's nothing.

Nothing on me either.

There's nothing.

What is that on your chest?

[Wang Heng]

It's just a stain

I accidentally got on myself.

Jiang Zhan!

[The End of Episode 22]

♪Through endless twists♪

♪In the mundane world♪

♪The breezy wind blows♪

♪The heart grows tender and bitter♪

♪I ask the Sun♪

♪If the light has taken root♪

♪As it prospers♪

♪Our love story writes itself♪

♪We lock eyes and promise to stay together forever♪

♪After countless challenges, we are still us♪

♪Our inseparable souls♪

♪Can weather all storms♪

♪We cross paths and promise to stay together forever♪

♪The tapestry of destiny is filled with our youth♪

♪Our blissful time together♪

♪Will lead us♪

♪To the sea of stars♪

♪Our destined paths♪

♪The years will hold♪

♪A light shines at the tunnel's end♪

♪Where happy endings will transcend♪

♪We cross paths and promise to stay together forever♪

♪The tapestry of destiny is filled with our youth♪

♪Our blissful time together♪

♪Will lead us to what we desire♪

♪We lock eyes and promise to stay together forever♪

♪Through frost-kissed trails, and starry space♪

♪Moon-silvered dreams♪

♪On love's embrace♪

♪Hearts bound as one, through time's soft grace♪

♪Love's tide guides, beyond our mortal space♪

♪A moment kept with your embrace♪

♪Where blooms have found their place♪