Original subtitles

[Legend of the Magnate]

[Episode 12]

I almost forgot you're a princess.

I wanted to give you a gift.

I've been thinking about it,

but couldn't decide what to pick.

So I'll give

Miss Bai, whom I've never met,

a small gift.

No need for that.

I'm afraid I might not

make it to your wedding.

So giving it early

can put my mind at ease.

But I realized

that with you by her side,

she's already

got the whole world.

So what else could I even give her?

Take it.

Your safety is

the best gift I can give her.

This is His Highness's gift for you.

I can't accept it.

What use is it to me?

My father was imprisoned, and I almost got killed as well.

Could this possibly save me?

But you can keep it

and occasionally recall the title of "princess"

just for fun.

I

won't keep any more.

Will you continue to help Mr. Chang

with the horse gang?

Of course.

We stick to our own world.

Then you

take care on your journey.

Gu.

This past year,

I've been reading some books.

Father and I have been on the move everywhere since I was little,

but I never learned to speak like a scholar.

That doesn't matter.

The chivalrous are often the humble,

while the heartless are often scholars.

That's the fault of the heartless person,

not the books.

I read in books

that when scholars bid farewell,

they always compose and exchange poems.

Let me recite a poem

I read this morning to send you off.

"Gloomy winds and rain;

roosters crow without cease.

Having met you, my dear.

I couldn't rejoice more."

♪ Names being etched and centered in the time ♪

♪ A goose flying across the barren plains, carrying the setting sun's last light ♪

Gu.

Take care.

♪ An old friend suddenly comes to mind, and the world feels vast and desolate ♪

♪ Here, I dreamed of you ♪

♪ The candlelight casts the glow on me ♪

♪ The rain soaks the paper umbrella; the red mark on my sleeve spreads ♪

♪ Ride home on horseback ♪

♪ The wind brushes past the old eaves on a cool night ♪

♪ Look, the lanterns sway and cast shadow of our overlapping silhouettes ♪

♪ Forget about how long the path is ♪

Are you an official or a soldier?

♪ This is etched into my soul, unforgettable for life ♪

I am a convict.

You're a good person.

May heaven bless you.

You'll get to the bottom of this.

♪ Names being etched and centered in the time ♪

You won't stay wrongly accused

your whole life without answers.

If I beg your father

♪ A goose flying across the barren plains, carrying the setting sun's last light ♪

to take me as his student

and teach me about business...

If he won't teach you,

I can!

♪ The rain soaks the paper umbrella; the red mark on my sleeve spreads ♪

Gu.

♪ My heart races so fast like a surging sea ♪

Our lives are

tied together.

♪ Longing sweeps through like starlight ♪

♪ Even when hair turns grey, we'll still gaze at each other, fingers entwined ♪

♪ The Milky Way spans the west window ♪

Everyone.

My home is just up ahead.

Come with me to the village.

Your Highness,

we were ordered to escort you only this far.

From here on,

you're on your own.

Farewell.

How could that be?

You've worked hard escorting me

all this way.

You must at least come with me for a meal.

We're bound by military orders

that we dare not disobey.

Your Highness, please say no more.

Someday,

when you and the Princess return to Horqin,

I will serve you drinks again.

Let's go.

[Shanjian Village, Huizhou]

[Gu's Mansion]

Mother.

Mother.

[Mrs. Gu, Mother of Gu Pingyuan]

Mother.

I'm Pingyuan.

Your eldest son.

I, your son, am back.

Mother!

Pingyuan!

Is it really you?

My son is back!

You are my firstborn son.

Pingyuan.

God is merciful.

God showed mercy!

God let us, mother and son,

reunite while still alive!

Pingyuan, let me look at you.

My son,

I've nearly cried my eyes blind.

My son.

I've been waiting...

I've been waiting for your return.

My son.

My son.

My son.

We've literally had the worst luck.

What kind of world is this?

It's always the common people who suffer.

What...

Pingwen.

You've grown taller.

[Gu Pingwen, the Gu Family's Second Son]

Don't you recognize me?

Get up.

Brother.

Now you know I'm your brother?

You hit way too hard!

You've finally come back!

We thought

you were dead all these years!

I had to do

all the work by myself.

[Gu's Mansion]

Mother's eyes are like this

because she's cried too much

and too frequently.

Now that you're back,

she'll surely get better day by day.

I remember

that when you were just taken away,

I always saw Mother crying.

Back then, Mr. Bai

would occasionally come

to talk with Mother.

Later, he had difficulty walking

and stopped coming.

I still had to work in the fields

while there was no one to keep Mother company at home.

I'm not a child.

Why would I need company?

Even if I go completely blind,

I can still spin thread.

That's true.

Despite Mother's poor eyesight,

the thread she spins is

so fine and delicate

that even young girls can't make it.

What about Mr. Bai?

Besides his leg problem,

what else is wrong with him?

His legs are bad,

and his temper is even worse.

He always yells at people.

He always yells at me!

I'll take you to see him tomorrow.

But I'm not going in.

I don't want to be yelled at again.

His bad temper isn't

anything new.

I remember when I was little,

if I couldn't recite the articles,

he would hit my palms,

making my hands swell.

If I have to name someone

in this world

who makes my legs tremble upon sight,

it would definitely be Mr. Bai.

You got off easy.

Back in my day,

he hit my hands

and twisted my ears, which ended up like Buddha's long ears.

That was what you get for not studying hard.

If you were like me,

reciting articles well,

you could even stay for dinner at his house.

If I had Miss Bai

studying with me,

I would have done better than you.

Well,

how is Yimei doing?

Has she

gotten married already?

No.

I know.

I made her

wait for me all these years.

She's suffered.

So,

first thing tomorrow morning,

I'll go visit Mr. Bai

and apologize to him in person.

Whether he beats me up

or scolds me,

at least it'll make me feel better inside.

By the way,

on my way back,

I saw some burned tea plants

in the tea plantation.

What happened?

Tell him.

Otherwise, your brother

won't eat

or sleep well.

Last month,

soldiers fought a battle here.

So the tea plantation was burned.

Qimen was besieged, too.

And Miss Bai was taken away

by the southern army.

In the whole village,

except for little girls and elderly women,

all women who could work were

taken away.

They said it was to look after wounded soldiers

and do laundry.

They promised to release them in 10 days,

but it's been a month now.

These days, people in the village are saying

that we should select someone

to go demand their return.

But we can't get in.

We would be driven away at the gate.

They have all kinds of weapons,

like swords, guns, spears, and axes.

Are we going to just throw ourselves at their mercy?

Do you know which army it is?

It's said to be the Resistance Army from Guangxi.

They're led by a general surnamed Li.

He's quite formidable.

They're even planning to attack Hefei.

So, when is our village

planning to ask for our people back?

I already told you.

We can't get through the camp entrance.

Who would dare to force their way in?

No one dares.

Yimei has been captured.

Then Mr. Bai...

Pingyuan,

you should go see him tomorrow.

All these years, it's been Pingwen

delivering firewood and water

to their home.

With Yimei's life hanging by a thread,

Mr. Bai must be

as worried as I used to be.

Mother,

don't think too much.

Let's enjoy our meal.

Now that I'm back,

I won't be away for so long again.

This war will eventually

come to an end one day.

And I think that day will soon come.

Once the war is over,

Pingwen and I will

fix up the tea plantation.

We'll continue selling our tea,

run our business well,

and live a good life.

Mother,

don't worry too much.

Your health comes first.

Our good days are yet to come.

Don't fall ill or get into trouble.

I once heard

these words in my dreams.

Now I can hear you say them in person.

Even if I were to die right now,

it would be worth it.

Pingyuan,

I don't remember seeing you carry a shoulder pole before.

You're doing pretty well.

I used to think of myself as a scholar.

Why would I need to carry firewood?

But later in Ningguta,

I hunted tigers in the mountains

and panned for gold in the rivers.

Carrying a shoulder pole?

That's a piece of cake.

Mr. Bai,

I, Pingwen, am here

to bring you water and firewood.

Carrying water and delivering firewood are

two jobs.

What do you mean by "bring you water and firewood"?

Do you have multiple heads and arms?

Did you hear that, Pingyuan?

How nitpicky he is.

This isn't nitpicking.

Incorrect names lead to discrepancies between words and truths.

And with these discrepancies, things won't make sense.

If things won't make sense, nothing can be accomplished.

Didn't I teach you this

when you were a student?

Mr. Bai,

I-I'll be going now.

Mr. Bai.

[Bai Shi'an, Private School Teacher]

I'm your student, Gu Pingyuan.

I'm back

to greet you.

P-Pingyuan, you're back?

Pingyuan!

You rascal.

You little rascal.

I...

You made us worried sick about you.

Do you know that?

Good.

Come on.

Get up now.

Get up quickly.

Alright, let's...

L-Let's go inside

to have a nice chat.

Come inside quickly.

[A long journey with heavy responsibilities]

Come on in.

Mr. Bai,

your place hasn't changed at all.

That's great.

What's so good about it?

I remember back then,

seeing that I was too small,

you let me sit in the front.

Right here.

At that time, my feet

couldn't even touch the ground.

You squatted

by my wall to eavesdrop every day,

fell asleep halfway through,

and even snored.

I kept wondering

if my teaching was really that boring.

The sunshine was so comfortable back then.

Once I basked in the sun,

I'd fall asleep in no time.

Did you come back yesterday?

My mother told me that you've been

having trouble with your legs.

She asked Pingwen and me

to come visit you early this morning.

Is your mother feeling better?

Last night, when she saw me

and we talked for a while,

her eyes seemed to light up a bit.

I've failed to be

a good son all these years.

Someone set you up in the examination site.

Guess it was a tribulation you were destined to suffer.

Being back today is

a blessing in and of itself.

Mr. Bai,

please don't sigh.

I heard

that Yimei was taken away, right?

All the women in the village

have been taken away.

I think they're probably

being made to do sewing and washing work.

Isn't the village just

looking for a representative

to go to the camp and ask for their return?

I think I can go.

A scholar can't talk sense

into soldiers.

Don't go.

We should choose a smooth talker.

Mr. Bai,

I'm no longer a scholar.

My academic title was revoked.

Now I've got a way

with words.

Trust me.

These past few years,

you've indeed grown a lot.

Once I bring Yimei back,

I'll marry her right away.

Last night with my mother,

I said these words.

Today, facing you, Mr. Bai,

I say the same thing.

Mr. Bai,

you must take good care of yourself.

I still need to take good care of you as my father-in-law.

If this comes true,

I'd be such a lucky man in my twilight years!

I have a good student,

an excellent son-in-law, to bring me joy by my side.

How wonderful.

What a joy.

Pingwen.

Is there any place nearby that sells hemp ropes?

Hemp ropes? We have some at home.

No, I mean the big kind.

In large bundles. The thick type.

Those villages down there all grow hemp.

You could go look for them.

How much do you want to buy?

About 400 or 500 taels worth.

400 or 500 taels?

That's about several warehouses of hemp!

Exactly.

Is that possible?

Stop bragging, okay?

Even if you have people from several villages

twist ropes with you

for three years,

you still can't make

ropes worth 400 or 500 taels.

A quick question for you.

Would you like to learn

to do business from me?

I'd like to.

But I only know how to grow tea.

Well then,

from now on,

I'll be your teacher.

Observe carefully when you're with me,

listen closely,

and ask me privately about anything you don't get.

Remember,

never question

any of my decisions in front of others.

Alright. Have a safe trip, sir.

These are the last two baskets.

How do I look?

Why did you grab

Li's glasses?

I paid!

They'll come in handy.

Let's go

sell hemp ropes.

[The Military Camp of Li Cheng, Resistance Army]

Stop there!

Where do you think you're trespassing?

Go back!

Go back?

What about my cartload of goods?

Take your things and get lost.

No outsiders are allowed into the military camp.

Don't you know that?

Young man,

may I have your name?

So when Li Cheng asks me about it,

I can tell him

who drove me away.

If you don't make yourself clear,

how can we let you in?

Our general's orders are

very strict.

Let me tell you.

This cartload of goods is urgent supplies

for your naval forces,

not easy to get these days.

Not letting me in, right?

Fine, we're leaving.

Wait, wait, wait!

Was it really the General who asked you to come?

Come on, get up here.

I'll take you inside.

You can ask him yourself, alright?

You may go in by yourself.

Listen,

once you enter the camp,

you must get off the wagon

and don't park anywhere.

All forms of driving and horseback riding are

prohibited in the camp.

Pay attention to this.

Yes, sir.

Come on,

clear the way!

There are two people outside

asking to meet the General.

It's these two, right?

Yes.

You may go.

You're the one looking for our general, huh?

General Li is busy with work.

Just leave these things

over there and go.

I'll report it to him later.

Go and report

that his cousin,

Gu Pingyuan, is here.

How impertinent!

No matter how busy he is,

how can he not meet me?

Cousin?

So you claim to be

our general's cousin, right?

Go report to him now!

Alright.

How about this?

You go by yourselves.

See that gate ahead?

Go through it

and then go straight.

The large tent up front is

our general's headquarters.

Go ahead.

Off you go.

Take it slow in there.

Go ahead.

Li

leads his troops quite well.

How do you know about leading troops?

Back when I was in Ningguta,

I hung around with the soldiers there

and learned a bit.

I think you've

picked up other skills, too.

What?

Your smooth talk and lies.

How could you be

Li Cheng's cousin?

What will you say

when you meet him later?

I'm just playing it by ear.

How else would we get in without bluffing?

Is General Li Cheng inside?

I, Gu Pingyuan, am seeking an audience.

Is General Li Cheng inside?

I, Gu Pingyuan, am seeking an audience.

Is General Li Cheng inside?

You bluffer.

Cousin?

Take them away.

Do we really

have to besiege Hefei?

The imperial court's army

has already pulled through the toughest time.

The navy controls the middle and upper reaches.

Now we still have a chance

to push northward.

If we spend

too much time in Hefei,

it will bring us big trouble!

Do you still remember

the last northern campaign?

Say no more.

We'll follow orders from above.

I'm afraid he only cares

about his Sufu Province

and ignores Tianjing.

Ever since His Lordship passed away,

something feels off.

Forgive me for saying this,

but our situation is deteriorating

day by day.

General,

there's no point

in our staying in Huizhou.

They want us to create a diversion to support the navy.

With these few troops,

how can we pull it off?

Besides, given Huizhou's low terrain,

we're here just for the imperial court

to have its troops raid us.

With insufficient forces,

a long defense line,

and frequent night attacks from the enemy,

all camps are rattled

in a state of low morale.

Everyone,

you're all my old pals

from Guangxi.

I've joined the Resistance Army since childhood,

rising from a child soldier to a general.

I clearly remember

that we all swore

to overthrow the Qing Dynasty.

Since we followed the Heavenly King,

kept our hair, and rose up,

we should know

that this is a war to the death

with no turning back.

Alright,

return to your camps

and stabilize the morale.

Furthermore,

don't let me hear of anyone

plundering villages again.

Otherwise,

I'll execute them before reporting

with no mercy.

Yes, General.

Who is that general?

You've claimed to be my general's cousin for a while.

And you don't even know who he is?

General Li!

General Li!

How stupid you are.

Swaggering into our camp so boldly,

you truly have no regard

for those heroic figures.

I'm just a small merchant.

To seek profits,

I played a trick and accidentally

entered your camp.

Please forgive me, General.

A small merchant?

You're lying!

Who on earth are you?

Where's my brother?

Your brother?

Your brother is dead because of you.

Your brother...

General Li, you lead the army in a disciplined way,

and you don't look like someone who kills innocents.

I just want to make a deal with you.

Will you let me up, please?

Make a deal?

[Li Cheng, General of the Resistance Army]

What deal?

Did you see

my cart full of hemp ropes?

I know your navy

needs a large quantity of hemp ropes

to reinforce the ships.

People in Huizhou

dare not sell any to you.

I can help you purchase what you need.

Does he look like

a spy sent by the imperial court?

Yes, he does.

No, I don't.

I...

About 25 kilometers from here,

there's Shanjian Village.

You took

all the women here

from that village,

saying that you would

return them in 10 days.

It's been a month now,

and there's been no news at all.

I'm from that village.

What's your name?

My name is Gu Pingyuan.

I've lived in Shanjian Village since childhood.

I have a teacher surnamed Bai.

His daughter is called Bai Yimei.

"Mei" as in plum blossom.

She should be in your military camp now.

You can ask her

about me.

Continue with the hemp ropes.

I know you need

a whole lot of hemp ropes.

The people in the village might

not be enough.

All these women can twist ropes.

Letting them back

can work in your favor, too.

I have so many wounded soldiers.

Who will take care of them if the women leave?

General,

forgive me for being blunt.

You won't be able

to stay here much longer.

Those women are innocent.

I don't want them to die here.

Who told you

that I won't be staying here long?

You've been besieging Hefei

for over 2 months.

Yet you still haven't taken it.

Once the imperial court's troops arrive,

they'll surround you completely.

Watch what you're saying!

General Li,

I just have one question.

Have you already killed

those women who were brought here?

If so,

just give me a straight answer.

So I can go back to the village with the news.

Untie his feet.

Bring him out.

Yes, General.

Come on.

Open the door.

See?

In our Resistance Army,

we have separate camps for men and women.

Even married couples must sleep separately.

We lead our troops differently

from those brutal guys.

For the poor things in the world,

we treat men like our brothers

and women like our sisters.

Our Resistance Army

will never mistreat them.

See clearly now?

If you do, then just leave.

Get these two brothers

out of the camp.

Understood.

Go.

Go!

Night raid!

Form ranks for battle!

Charge!

Kill them!

Yimei.

Yimei!

Yimei!

Yimei!

Yimei!

Yimei.

Yimei!

Yimei!

Yimei!

Yimei!

Yimei!

Yimei!

Gu!

Gu!

Gu!

Gu!

Gu!

Yimei.

Yimei.

It really is you.

Did you get hurt?

[Bai Yimei, Daughter of Bai Shi'an]

Where are the other women from our village?

They scattered when the firing started.

Quickly, come with me.

No.

These two were wounded by arrows.

They need water every few minutes.

At a time like this, you still...

Then help me first.

Move aside!

Get out of the way!

Move!

Fire!

Pingwen?

Save me!

Help! Help me!

Help!

It's on fire!

Untie them all.

I'll go find the other women.

Okay.

Help me!

Okay.

I'll help you one by one.

Anyone from Shanjian Village?

Is there anyone from Shanjian Village?

Those from Shanjian Village, follow me!

Anyone from Shanjian Village?

Pingyuan!

Pingyuan.

Pingwen.

Yimei is still in the hut.

Let's hurry inside!

Okay.

Yimei!

Yimei!

No time to waste!

Let's run.

Be careful.

Fall back!

Fall back!

Go back!

Go back!

Fall back!

Back off!

Fall back!

Fall back!

-Back off! -Go back!

Fall back!

You!

Get back!

Pingyuan! Pingyuan! Pingyuan!

Gu!

Gu!

Let me go!

Let go of me!

What are you waiting for?

There must be a snitch among them!

The General is injured.

Check every one of them!

Si,

go check on the medic now.

I can help.

I know how to treat patients! Let me help!

Don't hurt anyone!

Stop!

Who just spoke?

Me.

It was me.

I beg you.

P-Please don't hurt anyone.

I-I've studied medicine since childhood.

I...