Original subtitles

By His Majesty's decree,

Minister of War, Wang Xing Yi, has been found negligent in his duties,

leading to grave consequences.

He is hereby stripped of his title

as Grand Academician of the Wenyan Pavilion

and demoted to Inspector of the Shengtian Prefecture Patrol Office.

His daughter, Wang Ying Xue, who is guilty of murder,

the punishment would ordinarily be immediate execution.

However, considering her descent into madness,

she is permitted to end her life within her residence.

Thus decreed.

Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty.

Ming.

Ming, look at me.

Ming.

-Good girl, Ming. -My Lady,

with so many men in the Dou family,

you shouldn't have been the one to do this.

The imperial decree has been issued.

Let me be the one to play the villain this time.

Ming...

Someone is here to see you.

It's you.

You've come to gloat, haven't you?

First, you brought misfortune to your mother,

and then to your sister.

A bringer of misfortune!

So many people wish you were dead,

why won't you just grant them their wish?

Give me back my daughter!

Bring Ming back to me!

In just a few days,

it will be my mother's birthday.

From the day your mother hanged herself,

I knew you'd never let me go.

I let you go a long time ago.

It's you who refuses to let yourself go.

You hate me to your very core

because my existence is a constant reminder

of how your closest friend

took her own life because of you,

how you stole her place,

and ruined the happiness she should have had.

You may be cruel,

but you're still human.

Even you can't escape the guilt gnawing

at your conscience or the fear of divine retribution.

All these times

you've tried to kill me weren't about me at all,

they were your desperate attempts to escape the torment

of your sleepless nights.

That's not true!

Since ancient times, men have taken wives and concubines, it's only natural.

Your mother was the one who couldn't accept it.

She killed herself.

It wasn't my fault.

This is between you and my mother.

Let her be the one

to settle it with you now.

Zhao Gu Qiu!

I'm not afraid of you!

I've been living just fine.

What's done is done.

Killing you won't undo the past.

These flower petals won't kill you,

but I hope this lesson will make you

feel the same pain my mother endured

and bring some solace to her spirit.

(Blossom)

(Episode 24)

Shou Gu.

Father.

My marriage with Ying Xue was a mistake.

First, I wronged you and your mother,

and later, I wronged her and Ming.

Ming had a kind heart.

She didn't deserve this ending.

Ming suffered because of the discord between her parents.

That's why she fell so recklessly into love.

I often wonder

where I went wrong.

Perhaps I should never have entered officialdom,

or maybe I should never have left the capital.

If I hadn't,

I might now be enjoying

the blooming magnolias with joy.

You can't hold onto the past.

But

I'm forever trapped in the past now.

Your visit

makes me feel a little better.

After going through this ordeal,

I feel the need to tell you this.

Seize the moment,

cherish those you love.

Don't end up like me,

consumed by a lifetime of regret

When did you get here?

I've been here

since you stepped into Wang Ying Xue's room.

This is between you and my mother.

Let her be the one to settle it with you now.

It's such a shame about Ming.

The more wonderful something is,

the more strength it takes to protect it.

Shou Gu,

I will always keep you safe

and ensure your peace.

I know.

Let's go home.

Alright, let's go home.

Marquis of Jining's Residence has been confiscated.

He's been demoted to a commoner.

-You want this? -Sir! Sir!

Catch! Go on!

Please give me back the painting.

Screw you!

Out of all this gold and treasure, you only want a painting?

What, is there some secret map hidden in it?

You want it?

Fine, beg for it properly.

Get on your knees now.

Come on.

Do it.

Please...

What? I can't hear you.

Louder!

Please, I'm begging you! Please give me back the painting.

Please!

Scram!

Go!

The entire city went into chaos just because a token was lost.

The deployment order reached the Warden's Office long ago.

What were those useless officials even doing?

Your Majesty, I failed to maintain order in my household,

which led to this disaster.

I humbly request punishment.

Don't take everything upon yourself.

This is a failure of the capital's defenses.

Whatever happened within your family

couldn't have caused such an uproar.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I will immediately coordinate with the Six Ministries

and the Censorate to conduct a thorough investigation.

I'll present the details of the negligence to the court

for Your Majesty's review.

Approved.

The southern city under Duke of Ying's watch remains peaceful.

Your family

has lived up to my expectations.

But, Yan Tang,

I'll need you to take charge

of the aftermath as well.

Duke of Ying has done a meticulous job,

even sparing his personal guards

to assist at my residence in fighting off the bandits.

His attention to detail is truly admirable.

I'll need to learn much from him.

Dealing with the immediate aftermath is important,

but eliminating the bandits will resolve the problem once and for all.

I am willing to lead the troops to eradicate this threat

and ease Your Majesty's concerns.

Your Majesty,

while the bandits' force has weakened, they are cunning.

Duke of Ying has been away from the battlefield for some time.

I propose

entrusting the command to Lord Song,

allowing me to act as his advisor

and provide strategic support.

Very well.

Song Yi Chun will temporarily oversee the Warden's Office

to handle the capital's recovery.

Yan Tang will lead the Imperial Guards and 3,000 elite troops,

departing in three days.

Shi Shu will serve as Acting Minister of War

and coordinate reinforcements.

Until the bandits are completely eradicated,

none of you are to return to the capital.

As Your Majesty commands.

Those bandits burned down half the northern district.

If Song Mo continues investigating along their trail,

he'll eventually uncover inconsistencies.

It's better to send him off to deal with the bandits

while I remain behind to oversee.

Even if he uncovers any clues,

it won't reach His Majesty.

You really are a master strategist.

Your foresight is remarkable.

This way, no matter how deep he digs,

we have nothing to fear.

General, is Her Ladyship coming to see you off?

This isn't my first campaign.

There's no need for all that ceremony.

Let's depart then.

The auspicious hour hasn't arrived yet.

Right, right, of course.

Yan Tang.

Didn't you say yesterday you wouldn't come to see me off?

I'm here to see the army off.

Liar.

Why did you come from outside the city?

Tell me the truth.

I went to Wanfo Temple to pray for your safety.

The bandits are ruthless.

You must come back unharmed and triumphant.

You left the city early in the morning

just to get me a blessing?

Aren't you worried I might draw an ill-fated lot?

Don't worry about that.

I already removed

every bad lot from the jar.

What's left are only blessings of good fortune.

What an overbearing worshiper you are.

Heavens watch over us.

God already knows what I wish for.

May you remain in love and together for a lifetime.

This isn't right. You need one about safety and success.

-Draw another. -Why not?

I'm not drawing again. I want this one.

My love, will this fortune come true?

We'll see when you're back.

Don't brush me off.

If you keep me guessing, I'll be distracted, always overthinking.

On the battlefield, that distraction

could cost me an arm, a leg,

or worse, my head.

Don't say such things!

You're about to go to battle,

don't you know better than to speak ill omens?

So, that's a yes?

God is watching.

You can't take it back.

You must return safe and sound.

I'll be waiting for you.

General!

General, Minister Dou has given the order, it's time to move out.

Form up!

Form up!

Listen to my command, Imperial Guards!

Yes, sir!

Today we march to battle.

We will not return until every bandit is eradicated!

Eradicate the bandits!

Eradicate the bandits!

Eradicate the bandits!

Move out!

May we remain in love

and together for a lifetime.

(Zuixian Tower)

Isn't this the Marquis?

How about a drink at the shop today?

Not today.

You still haven't paid off what you owe us.

I'll pay you back

once I sell some paintings.

No money?

Guards!

Search him for money.

Wait...

Here, I have some here.

Here you go.

Here.

This is all you have?

Go to hell!

Let's go.

It's the Marquis. Follow him.

Well, if it isn't the Marquis.

How did you end up in such a state?

Master Zhou.

That painting in your hand might still be worth something.

I'll consider it a charity and take it off your hand.

I can't sell you this painting, Master Zhou.

Beggars can't be choosers. Give it to me!

-Master Zhou... -Get it!

Please let it go, Master Zhou!

Let me go! Give it back!

Let me go!

Oh, it's the Marchioness.

She's dead because of you.

What's the use of keeping it?

Tell you what, I'll do you a favor

and burn it as an offering to her.

No! Mr. Zhou, you can't burn it.

Please don't burn it.

I'm begging you, please don't burn it!

Master Zhou!

Please show some mercy!

I'll kowtow to you!

-Please don't burn it. -What use is regret now?

No... No, Master Zhou!

Please, Master Zhou!

Please don't burn the painting, Master Zhou!

No!

Let go!

Darn you!

Beat him up!

Let's go!

It's alright, Ming. Don't be afraid.

Come on, just let me see it.

-My Lord. -No.

Ming,

I miss you so much.

I knocked out my sister and married you in her place.

Tomorrow, the world will mock me for being shameless

and betraying my family.

Please visit me in my dreams.

Is this the one you were painting last time?

Do you like it?

I love it.

Ming...

Ming...

My Lord.

It's time to take your medicine.

The doctor said your cold hasn't gone away.

Yet you still insist on painting here.

Ming.

Is it really you?

I'm not dreaming, am I?

How?

What nonsense are you talking about?

I was just away for five minutes.

What's wrong with you?

You had a nightmare?

Ming.

Ming, I don't want to be separated from you again.

I don't want to leave you ever again.

I won't.

I won't leave you.

Ming, this is great.

It was just a nightmare.

We'll never be separated again.

Here.

Soon after the imperial edict was issued,

a crazy warlock came to the residence

saying that he can cure her.

She just needs to do bows from the foot to the top of the mountain every day.

Do a bow every three steps and a kowtow every nine steps,

accompanied by the chanting of sutras for 100 times.

Ming will then be free from the pain of hell.

Once she heard that, she was sane again.

She just begged to come here.

It looks like

Mother has forgiven her.

Luckily, you begged for the grace of His Majesty

to let her live out her life here.

May this help her atone her sins and get rid of karma.

There are thousands of steps from the foot to the top of the mountain.

It would take hours to walk to the top,

let alone doing a bow every three steps and a kowtow every nine steps.

Can a woman brave the elements

and complete this feat in 999 days?

I'm afraid not.

There you go.

In Buddhism, there's a narrative called endless hell.

It's the most miserable one among the eight hells.

People who commit a heinous crime will be sent there.

There is no hope of getting out of it ever again.

Bandits attacked the residence.

I originally thought your injury was physical.

I didn't expect it to be a trouble of the mind.

Your mind is in a mess.

You can't sleep well lately

and have a lot dreams, right?

There's another matter.

I have a good friend whose husband is away.

She kept having nightmares.

She dreamed that her husband was ambushed in the woods.

So she wanted me to interpret her dreams.

She asked me if her husband would be safe.

But I'm not good at this.

Is the woods

somewhere near Jinxi?

Oh, no.

This is bad. This is so bad.

What's wrong?

This is bad.

Your good friend's husband

can't offend nasty people. There will be a bloody disaster.

He will be dying soon.

That good friend of mine even dreamed

that someone cursed her husband.

In the end,

that person suffered a rotten mouth, rotten stomach and rotten heart.

My Lady.

His Lordship has written back.

You won't admit defeat but have a soft heart.

You're the one should be punished for talking nonsense.

Get the horse ready.

You're not getting treated?

Bandits suddenly surrounded us.

His Lordship has been ambushed in the woods.

What's wrong?

I'm here.

Yan Tang.

The more you care, the more irrational you become.

You're all right.

Yes.

Yan Chao Qing said you were ambushed in the woods.

I'm the one who ambushed them.

If these bandits needed you to rescue them,

I'd better go home and do needlework.

Stop laughing.

Get lost.

Nonetheless,

I've been injured.

The man's archery skills were good.

Luckily, I'm wearing my golden silk soft armor.

Did you hurt your hand?

You got hurt here?

Let's go back to the tent now.

I'll check the wound for you.

Massaging around the area more

can improve blood circulation.

The wound will heal faster.

Let me look at the wound.

You don't have to.

The wound is almost healed.

Just now you said it hurts.

Are you afraid that I'll be worried because it's serious?

Let me see.

You don't need to.

Let me see.

What's wrong?

You're injured so badly.

Does it still hurt?

No. It's just a minor injury.

In the past, nobody at home cared when I got hurt.

Now that you worry about me,

I realise minor injuries like this

can make you feel bad for me for a long time.

Who feels bad for you?

Do you know what day it is today?

Today?

In the military, one loses track of time.

It's your birthday today.

Longevity noodles.

Happy birthday.

You remember my birthday?

Of course.

Thank you.

Try it.

Slow down.

Is it good?

You made it.

Of course it's good.

Can you make the birthday boy's wish

come true today?

Let me hear it first.

You must not get angry.

I won't.

General.

This better be worth it.

-Otherwise... -I understand.

I'll run laps.

Go ahead.

General, the refugees we rescued from the bandits are awake.

They want to thank you.

I got it.

Aren't you leaving?

Thank you for saving our lives.

Please get up.

It's just a small matter. It's not worth mentioning.

Where do you live?

My husband is a military general.

He can get someone to send you home.

Thank you, My Lady.

Our village has been destroyed by the Cangbei bandits.

We no longer have a place to live.

We were on our way to the capital to find my sister.

Which part of the capital does you sister live in?

My eldest daughter is in the capital city.

But we don't know where exactly.

The capital is very big.

We don't know where to start.

Madam, I have a place in the capital

that specializes in the business of calligraphy and painting tools.

If you don't mind,

you can settle down temporarily at my place

before you look for your daughter. What do you think?

In that case, thank you so much, My Lady.

Chan, quickly kowtow to Her Ladyship.

-Please get up. -Please get up.

Thank you.

My Lady, My Lady.

My Lady, my mother wants me to give you this hair pin.

Thank you, My Lady.

I can't take this.

General.

What's wrong?

General, Guanghe Restaurant has sent a message.

What did it say?

In general, it says that although we have won,

rumors are flying around in the palace.

They say you're greedy for success

and refuse to obey the orders from Ministry of War.

They even say that bandits wreaked havoc this time

because Her Ladyship showed off her dowry

and aroused the envy of the bandits.

So the people were dragged into this.

The innocent got into trouble because of the wealth they possess.

What did His Majesty say?

Lord Dou tried to defend you.

His Majesty then promoted him to deputy prime minister.

But His Majesty didn't say anything about your rewards.

Praising people overtly but criticizing them covertly.

Uncle Shi Shu is really good at that.

The news of you being greedy for success

must be released by him too

to evoke fear in His Majesty towards your arbitrariness.

Regarding the upheaval in the capital caused by bandits,

239 thieves

have been executed.

Our operation against bandits this time

has entrenched the perimeters of the capital.

The seven gangs in three provinces

which add up to 8000 rogue bandits

are either dead or captured. They have all been eliminated.

In future, if they dare to wreak havoc in the capital

and hurt the people,

we'll scatter their corpses in the open for the birds to peck at

to serve as a warning.

Good, good!

I've performed a ceremony at Wanfo Temple

for victims of this calamity and help their souls find peace.

From today onward,

we will refrain from drinking and having fun for one month

to pray that their souls rest in peace.

For those whose household has suffered,

Zhaowen Bookstore and Miao Family Store

have prepared food and medicinal herbs.

They will be free of charge and given out for three days.

Good, good!

Song Mo is bribing people in the capital.

You should remove his power

as punishment, Father.

Your Majesty, but the wife of Lord Song said

the giving-away of food and medicine is from the grace of Your Majesty

and donation of the palace.

The display of grace and majesty at the same time

has suppressed the atrocious crime

and stopped the complaints of angry people.

They have also upheld my reputation.

But Father,

he is obviously trying to be clever to please you and get what he wants.

If you're capable of that too,

I wouldn't need to worry so much.

In that case, the banquet for Lord Song...

It shouldn't be held.

When brought up previously,

nobody in the palace was vigilant.

Only Yan Tang was aware and attentive.

Issue an edict.

Over 1000 people were injured or dead in the capital.

According to the mourning system of the state,

everyone in the palace and all officials

are prohibited from drinking and having fun for a month.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Father, why did you bring me here?

I found the best teacher in the world to teach you music.

And this is also for celebrating your birthday.

Come on.

Come in.

Come on.

Shu Yao.

Han.

This is for you.

It's for keeping you safe.

Father.

Han.

All these years,

your birthday presents that I handed to you

were all made by her.

Do you understand the meaning of this?

I don't get it at all.

Han.

Han.

Han.

Brother.

What's wrong with your eyes?

Is it because of the smoke?

I'm fine, Brother.

Why are you here?

Your cat came to Yizhi Hall again.

I got him back for you.

It loves to wander off.

What are you burning?

I have a missing ornamental knot on my belt.

So I got a maid to make one for me.

But it turned out very ugly.

So I decided to burn it.

My Lord, General Yan and Commander Chen are here.

They said it's important.

Let them wait in the front hall.

-Yes, My Lord. -Commander Chen?

You can say he's a pawn I secretly planted

in the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

His name is Chen Jia.

Chen Jia?

I'll kill you.

Can I listen to your conversation?

-My Lord. -My Lord.

We've investigated the house in the northern ward.

The proprietor registered it under a fake name.

We only know a woman by the surname Li is living there now.

She usually plays zither.

Using the portrait,

I've identified her traits and penchants.

I suspect she's a palace prostitute

who entered the criminal records of the Court Entertainment Bureau

and died of illness long ago,

Li Yaoniang.

Li Yaoniang?

How long has she lived there?

20 years.

The neighbours say they often see a palanquin behind the house.

We've identified it with the drawing.

It's the palanquin from Duke of Ying's Residence.

Don't mind that. Keep talking.

I've found an old neighbour nearby

and verified it with him.

He has never had concubines.

I thought he was loyal to Mother.

Turns out he has another family long ago.

My Lord, how can Duke of Ying

single-handedly rescue and relocate a criminal

under the Duchess of Ying's nose

and hide her away for 20 years?

It's not easy.

Who does she usually associate with?

She rarely leaves the house.

Only on the first and fifteenth day of every month,

she would go to Wanfo Temple to pray and listen to sutras.

The temple abbot knows her.

Continue to monitor her.

Yes, My Lord.

We'll split up to investigate this.

I'll go to Wanfo Temple.

Okay.

No matter what happens,

you must remember that you still have me.

You're a fool.

Licorice candied fruits

can't be taken with the spurges in Mother's prescription.

It's you who made her die from illness.

Having you with that woman

is what I regret the most my entire life!

Yan Tang!