Original subtitles

Your Highness!

Can you swim?

Swim?

Swim?

So that's it.

Xie Zheng planned to burst the dam from the very beginning.

That's why he only brought 1000 men as a decoy.

Well done, Marquis of Wu'an.

What a truly profitable deal.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

It's a trap?

Don't come in!

All of you! Retreat!

All of you! Retreat!

Here comes the water!

Run!

[He]

The second mouse

enjoys the cheese.

They surely didn't expect you to have a backup plan.

This plan will surely trap Xie Zheng.

From now on,

you will be the only Heir Apparent of Lord Changxin's Mansion.

Oh no.

The manor is on low ground.

It will be flooded first.

Master, where are you going?

Don't be rash!

Hyah!

Master, wrong way!

That way is the manor!

Run!

Are you hurt?

I'm fine.

[539] [545]

What is this?

Mancang.

What do you think it's used for?

There's a string here.

Pull it and see.

Your scout is certainly dutiful.

He's still signaling you to flee.

Why don't you try to flee, Your Highness?

[Sui]

Xie Qi, take him away.

Who told you to touch that?

Didn't he ask for it?

He did it.

So you just did it because he told you to?

-No. No. -Do you want a beating?

Brother!

Restless hands!

Brother!

Beat him!

Harder!

I understand now.

That man kowtowed and begged me for mercy,

but he was actually trying to send a signal.

What Master wanted me to intercept

was this.

Your Lordship, this injury is too severe.

It needs immediate treatment.

I know what I'm doing.

Do not let others know about this.

[He]

You really need

to change your temper.

Get some rest. Let me do it.

Come, let me see.

You're still burning up.

Changning has been traveling for days,

and she's been badly frightened.

This illness will take time to heal.

How should we settle her?

When she gets a bit better,

send someone to take her back to Jizhou.

Her sister must be burning with anxiety

at home.

Changning,

this is your sister's candy.

Do you miss her?

Have a candy.

Will you ever learn?

Who is on the mountain?

How dare you signal the rebels?

Who are you?

I am a scout under the Marquis of Wu'an.

What you are holding

is a whistling arrow launcher that the Sui Army uses to signal alarms.

We are laborers repairing the dam.

An enemy discovered the plan to breach the dam

and wanted to warn the rebel army.

We chased him here and killed him.

If we hadn't dealt with those villains,

the Marquis of Wu'an's plan would have failed.

Here are the tokens of those scouts.

See for yourself if you don't believe us.

It seems to be a misunderstanding.

You brave souls have guts.

What are your names?

My...

Be humble. No need to claim credit.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Your Lordship.

General He ordered me to report immediately.

General Shi Yue of the rebel army

has led the army to surround us.

Your Lordship, Counselor.

Please break out with me immediately.

Shi Yue... is a fierce general under Lord Changxin.

He is a capable fighter.

How many men did they bring?

A full 30,000.

Thirty...

We have suffered heavy losses

and have less than 800 men left.

There is no hope of breaking out.

It really is a case of "the second mouse enjoys the cheese."

Xie Wu.

Go and settle Changning down.

Yes.

Your Lordship.

Do you plan to stay?

But you have less than 1,000 men.

How can you fight Shi Yue's army of tens of thousands?

The main army of Yanzhou

is marching toward Baxia.

Please go back and inform Old General He

that I will meet him around the Spring Equinox

for a hunt at North Mount Gu.

Yes.

General He,

lead the main army to retreat.

Shi Yue is after the Xie Army.

As long as my troops and Sui Yuanqing are here,

he won't waste time chasing you.

But...

Your Lordship, Counselor.

Take care.

Take care.

Jizhou Army, retreat with me!

[Marquis of Wu'an]

Pass on my order!

The whole army is to break camp

and move to the Mount Gu Camp!

Hyah!

-Hyah! -Yes!

[Marquis of Wu'an]

Hyah!

The Marquis of Wu'an's army is indeed mighty.

And quite cool.

May Heaven bless the Marquis of Wu'an

and our soldiers

to go safely

and return safely.

Report!

The dam at Baxia has burst.

The Sui Army suffered countless casualties.

The Heir Apparent...

was captured alive by the Marquis of Wu'an.

Brother.

[Shi Hu]

This Xie Zheng has gone too far.

Let's make him pay with blood!

Hu!

[Shi Yue]

We must stay calm at a time like this.

-Fortunately, the Eldest Young Master planned it perfectly -Yes.

and had us rush here

so that we could intercept the Marquis of Wu'an's troops.

Let's go meet this Marquis of Wu'an.

We'll find a way to rescue the Heir Apparent first.

Master!

Old man!

We're back!

Master!

[545]

We did it.

The Marquis of Wu'an won!

We won!

We won!

We won!

We won!

We did it.

We won!

[545]

Good!

Who says women are inferior to men?

I certainly chose

a good disciple.

[Pursuit of Jade]

[Episode 23]

Yu Qianqian.

Wake up!

Yu Qianqian!

I won't let you die!

Qianqian.

Where are we going?

Does it matter?

You go where I go.

You can't leave my side for a second.

Stop! I can't hold it anymore.

-Little Young Master! -Uncle Xun!

-Be careful. -My stomach hurts!

Watch your step.

Be careful.

Mrs. Lan,

we're almost at the Jizhou border.

Will the Marquis of Wu'an really join forces with us?

With Shi Yue's army of 30,000 before him,

he might be hard-pressed to save himself.

Shi Yue may be brave and cunning,

but his opponent is the Marquis of Wu'an,

so nothing is certain yet.

Master's...

All the schemes devised by Qi Min and Sui Yuanqing

were broken by the Marquis of Wu'an against all odds.

I believe

he will win this time too.

Who's there?

Nanny, do you really think

you can escape safely

with that brat

and defect to the Marquis of Wu'an?

It seems you have forgotten

all my mother's instructions to you.

Precisely because I haven't forgotten,

I must make the right choice.

Her highness was truly pitiable back then.

She actually gave her own life

to save a madman like you.

Have you forgotten the Crown Prince Chengde's hatred,

or how your mother died tragically

right in front of you?

That feels much better.

Bao'er.

I remember

how Father was disemboweled by the Beijue people.

I also remember

the pain of my flesh splitting open from the fire.

It hurt so much

that I no longer feel any pain now.

I also remember

Mother's wails as she was burned alive.

Live on.

And you,

you speak of even betrayal

with such high-sounding righteousness.

Where there is life, there is hope!

Where there is life, there is hope!

Where there is life, there is hope!

What?

Have you finally decided

to kill the child

you raised yourself?

But I don't want to die yet.

What should I do?

An emperor must not be blinded by love.

You can fool the world,

but you're being played for a fool by a woman.

You love Yu Qianqian so much.

But you know what?

She said many times

that Bao'er could only survive

if you died.

I wanted to take her with me,

but she said

we couldn't escape unless you died.

She said...

she would kill you herself.

I wanted to kill you.

Why did you save me?

Your life belongs to me.

Without my permission,

no one can let you die.

Little Young Master, let's go.

When you see my mother,

pay my respects.

Give her a proper burial.

Yes.

What about Zhao Xun and Little...

"Where there is life, there is hope."

That doesn't sound like it was meant for me.

They must be nearby.

I want them alive.

Yes.

Search!

You wanted to sacrifice yourself

to kill me,

just to protect that brat.

Why couldn't you bring yourself to do it in the end?

I couldn't bring myself to do it?

I failed once,

but there's always a second time.

If I fail a second time,

there's a third.

One day, I will kill you.

If you kill me,

someone else will kill that brat.

If they fail once, they'll try the second time.

If they fail the second time,

there's a third time.

If you dare do anything to Bao'er,

I won't live either!

So,

our family of three

must all live well.

[North Mount Gu Camp]

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

You're badly hurt.

You shouldn't be out here.

Go back and rest.

I'm fine.

If I don't show my face,

who will steady the troops' morale?

Slow down.

Although the Mount Gu Camp is old,

the terrain is excellent.

It's easy to defend and hard to attack.

And with the hundreds of soldiers stationed here,

Shi Yue and Shi Hu won't break in easily.

Let go of me!

With this broken camp,

you really think you can hold out?

You're cooked.

Your Lordship,

what should we do with him?

Lock him in the dungeon in the back mountain.

Yes.

Take him away.

You're cooked!

You're cooked!

Your Lordship.

Yesterday, a few laborers repairing the dam on the mountain

spotted the enemy scouts

and killed all three of them,

preventing them from warning the others.

That's why Sui Yuanqing got tricked.

Do you remember their names?

They earned their merit.

Jizhou should reward them.

Counselor, we do.

They call themselves the Northwest Pig Butcher Squad.

Hard to forget, really.

What are your names?

I...

Be humble. No need to claim credit.

Tell them who we are.

We are...

the Northwest Pig Butcher Squad!

The Northwest Pig Butcher Squad?

You may leave.

Yes.

The Northwest Pig Butcher Squad.

This name is quite unique.

That reminds me of someone.

Impossible.

She's in Jizhou with Li Huai'an looking for Changning.

But you did remind me.

Since Changning is safe now,

I should let her know,

so she won't worry.

This is a temporary shed.

Mrs. Fan,

most of the sheds earlier were destroyed.

Please rest in this temporary shed for now.

Thank you.

Where are my brothers?

Grand Tutor Tao took them to rest.

The buns the kitchen made today

are as hard as the iron we forge.

I just took a bite,

and it almost broke my teeth.

Sir,

do you think this spear is okay?

[Smith]

The quenching heat for spearheads

must be controlled precisely.

If it's too brittle,

it will break easily.

Be careful next time.

M-Mr. Zhao?

[Smith]

-Changyu? -Who is this young lady?

[Smith]

M-Mr. Zhao!

[Smith]

Changyu!

Mr. Zhao!

Changyu, why have you come to the military camp?

I...

Mrs. Chen,

Mrs. Zhuang,

Auntie Tao,

and Xiaohu

are all alive.

Poor Wang and Granny Kang.

They just died like that.

I haven't found Changning yet either.

Changning

has a round lucky face.

She will surely be fine.

I will definitely find her,

no matter how long it takes.

And you. Take care of yourself.

Mrs. Zhao is waiting for you at home.

I'm fine.

I can treat livestock,

and I learned some blacksmithing when I was young.

In this camp,

shoeing and treating illnesses

for the livestock

and repairing weapons—

they rely on me for all of that.

But Mr. Jin and those brats

have really impressed me.

Can you believe they

stopped their petty thievery

and joined the army?

It's a good thing, right?

You've been here for so long.

Is there any news of Yan Zheng?

Was that bundle delivered?

I asked someone to deliver the things,

but he didn't see him.

I asked about him.

He's not in this supply unit.

In the army,

there's an old saying—

"No news of death

is good news."

Don't worry. Yan Zheng will surely be fine.

If he makes it big in the future,

you can enjoy a good life with him.

Actually,

I have already divorced him.

What happened?

It was a fake marriage to begin with.

It was just to deal with Fan Daniu back then

and save the house.

Now that it's over,

he left.

Well...

Changyu.

Yan Zheng looked like

he had feelings for you.

Young couples inevitably

act on impulse and go astray.

If you happen to meet him in the future,

you must talk things out

with him.

Don't wait until you're old

and leave things unresolved.

If he is still alive,

I will definitely talk things out with him.

I really know how to read faces.

Yan Zheng has a lucky long face.

He will definitely be fine.

Grand Tutor Tao.

Changyu.

Changyu!

First, let the furnace heat up quickly,

then start pulling the bellows.

When pulling the bellows,

you must follow the rhythm of the forging.

Once it turns red, we can start forging.

You must focus on the rhythm when forging.

Look.

This girl isn't studying properly with me,

but came here to learn blacksmithing instead.

Okay. Right?

Mr. Zhao.

We are here to pick up the new weapons.

Okay, they're all here.

They're heavy. Be careful.

Let me help.

Be careful, Changyu.

They're heavy.

One more bundle.

One more bundle?

-Can you hold up? -Yes.

Okay.

Alright.

Here.

Here's another bundle for you.

Changyu,

you're just as strong

as Fan Erniu.

I'm nowhere near as strong as my father.

He could lift my mother and me with one hand.

Bravo!

Really nice.

Yeah.

Good.

Watch out!

-Mr. Zhao! Are you okay? -Changyu! What are you doing?

Mr. Zhao!

Hurry.

Come on.

Are you okay, Mr. Zhao?

What could be wrong with him?

His foot got crushed!

Here.

I'm fine.

Why did you help him first

instead of me?

Who is he?

Master, come on.

Careful.

Be careful.

Careful. Careful.

Careful.

Here.

Why did you let him sit on the chair

and make me sit on this wooden stump?

You sit here then.

Let's go sit over there.

What's wrong?

I guess I stood by the blacksmith's furnace

for too long

and the heat got to my heart.

I'm burning up inside.

I feel terrible all over.

I'll brew some medicine for you.

What's wrong with you now?

I have a headache.

A headache?

The spear shaft didn't hit your head.

You must have caught a cold from the commotion that night.

Let's go to the medic.

I'm not going anywhere.

I'll just rest here.

Fine.

Both of you just rest here.

I'll go brew medicine for both of you.

Changyu.

My medicine must be brewed first,

or I won't drink it.

Why are you acting like a child,

fighting over who goes first in something like this?

Don't worry. I'll brew both at the same time.

So there's no first or last.

Then I want to drink mine first.

Fine.

Changyu told me

that to save her life,

you swapped the life-and-death lot with her.

That was incredibly noble of you.

For that alone,

I must let you have your medicine first.

You're too kind.

I even want to kowtow to you on her behalf.

Please don't. I can't accept that.

Please get up.

You know Mrs. Fan well?

Of course.

We've been neighbors for nearly 20 years.

She's like a daughter to me.

To be honest,

I've never met a better girl than her.

Indeed.

I've never met such a nice lady either.

Have some hot water.

It'll warm your stomach.

Thank you.

Let's toast with tea instead of wine.

Please.

Please.

Please.

Where did this army come from?

That one?

That's the supply convoy from Jizhou.

They're here to resupply the camps

near the Wu River.

One herb is missing. Xiaku grass.

It's probably in the kitchen.

It might be there.

Thanks.

Greetings, Captain.

Who's inside?

Some wounded soldiers.

And Mr. Zhao.

Mr. Zhao?

Mr. Zhao, how is your...

Li Wenkan?

What did you call me?

I'm 3 years older than your grandfather.

Grand Tutor Tao,

what are you doing here?

Look at my memory.

I forgot to tell Changyu you'd be here today.

Changyu?

Who's here?

-What are you doing here? -What are you doing here?

So, the heroine who hunted down the scouts

everyone in the army praises is you.

Are you hurt?

No. Thank you for your concern, My Lord.

After all this time, you still call me My Lord.

It's a bit too distant, isn't it?

My courtesy name is Wenkan.

You can call me that.

It's from "ten years of hard study,

only to just cross the threshold of literature."

My Lord, you are of noble status.

How could I dare call you that?

But I'll remember it.

"Li Threshold." Sounds nice.

Thank you for the compliment.

That kid doesn't look like a good egg.

What egg? Is it tasty?

I mean that Li.

He's not a good egg.

Are you heading to Lucheng, My Lord?

Lucheng's supplies

must be delivered within 7 days.

Although I don't know what General He and the Marquis of Wu'an

are plotting,

as the escort officer,

I must fulfill my mission.

I will ensure it arrives on time.

How about I send someone to take you back to Jizhou?

Maybe there's news about Changning.

I arranged for 2 subordinates

to keep looking for her.

Thank you so much, My Lord.

Let's go. Stop looking.

My... my falcon!

Yan... Yan Zheng?

Long time no see, silly bird.

Still so fat.

Go now.

[Changning and I are both fine.]

[Send Changning back to Jizhou as soon as possible.]

[You have nothing to worry about. Yan Zheng]

Changning...

is fine.

Yan Zheng?

Does it say that

Yan Zheng has found Changning?

Changning is fine.

Yan Zheng is fine too.

He tells you not to worry.

He will send her back to Jizhou as soon as possible.

Good.

Good.

Changning is fine.

Yan Zheng is fine too.

Good.

Good.

My Lord.

It's an urgent matter.

There are seats inside.

Okay.

[He]

So that's all the news we have for now.

What do you two think?

Master.

Here, Mr. Zhao.

Careful!

It's hot.

Why didn't you drink?

Lord Li,

what did you mean by that?

I didn't quite understand.

Simply put,

The Marquis of Wu'an was surrounded by 30,000 troops in the mountain.

He lacks food and medicine.

He wants to hold Mount Gu

to keep Shi Yue's army occupied.

It is a diversion.

The goal is to prevent

Shi Yue's army from joining forces with Lord Changxin.

If Mount Gu falls

and the two armies merge,

Lucheng will surely be breached,

and we might lose Jizhou.

The most important thing now

is to send the provisions to Mount Gu.

I'll do it.

I don't care who he is,

I will send the grain to the mountain.

Mrs. Fan, you absolutely must not.

It is far too dangerous.

Exactly.

This isn't something for common folk like us to do.

We should just help out here at the Wu River Camp

and do our best.

What are you going there for?

To throw your life away?

If I don't go—

Lord Li has to deliver grain to Lucheng

so he can't go either—

then who will?

The Marquis of Wu'an is fighting for us commoners.

I can't let him go hungry.

Mr. Zhao,

just let me go.

What if something happens to you?

How would I explain it to your Mrs. Zhao,

to Changning,

or to your late parents?

Don't worry.

I have my own squad now.

I can take care of myself.

How can you take care of yourself?

She has guts.

Truly the girl I chose.

Why are you here fanning the flames?

She's no longer a butcher girl.

She can lead troops in battle.

March swiftly without slackening!

Follow military orders strictly!

Yes!

Set off!

[Sui]

Your Lordship,

the torches down the mountain stretch out like a dragon.

At a rough estimate,

there are no fewer than 30,000 men.

Jiuheng?

Give me a straight answer.

What exactly is on your mind?

Keep them under surveillance.

Yes.

That brat, the Marquis of Wu'an,

certainly found a good spot.

There is only one hidden path up the mountain.

If our army attacks,

they can strike first.

It's really easy to defend and hard to attack.

It will be a tough fight.

That he raided Beijue

and bathed Jinzhou in blood

wasn't just luck.

Brother,

if we can't find a way up the mountain tonight,

we'll have to launch a frontal assault tomorrow.

We can't.

The Heir Apparent is still in their hands.

We must not act rashly.

With Sui Yuanqing in our hands,

we can stall for as long as we can.

It depends on whether He Jingyuan

will disappoint me.

Xie Wu,

how long will the food we brought up last?

Ten days if we eat our fill.

If we make porridge with wild vegetables,

it can last half a month.

The mountain roads here are complex.

Shi Yue surrounds us without attacking,

aiming to trap us to our deaths on the mountain.

This tactic is called "catching a turtle in a jar."

Who is the jar and who is the turtle

remains to be seen.

Report!

Your Lordship,

a grain transport team from Jizhou

risked their lives to climb the mountain.

They broke through Shi Hu's encirclement?

Yes.

Casualties are heavy.

Make sure they are well settled.

Yes.

General!

A small grain transport team

came up the mountain through the small path.

Our vanguard detected them.

We intended to ambush them from behind,

but the Xie Army suddenly intervened.

During the fierce battle,

we killed over ten of their men,

but a few survivors

were rescued by the Xie Army.

How did you guard the mountain?

You let them send grain up at this critical moment!

A bunch of useless fools!

It's just a few people.

The grain they brought wouldn't fill an ant.

There's nothing to fear.

What did they bring?

We only found grain on the bodies.

Later, in the carriage they abandoned at the foot of the hill,

we found salt and herbs.

They must be so short on manpower

that they abandoned everything else for grain.

Short of salt, huh?

That is good news.

Your Lordship,

there are two female medics on the grain transport crew.

They asked to see you.

Female medics?

Bring them in.