Original subtitles

ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL ZHU YU BY TUAN ZI LAI XI ON JJWXC.NET

THREE DAYS LATER

YONG'AN GATE

JINGQUE HOUSE

So many people today.

It is quite a spectacle.

It really is.

Changyu, you practically can't stay away

from the Marquis for a single day.

Did you have to come join the crowd?

When I came to the capital, he was there for me.

Now that he returns in triumph,

of course I'm here.

Song Yan of the Ministry of Rites Internal Affairs Office

was appointed to oversee matters of ritual instruction.

Yet he has proved incompetent in office

and failed in his duties.

He is stripped of his post,

sent back to his native place,

and barred from future service.

-We have waited so long. -There he is!

-He is here! -He is here!

YONG'AN GATE

He is here! Changyu, look!

There he is!

Marquis Wu'an!

MARQUIS WU'AN

You are not coming?

What is there to see? I'm good.

-Marquis Wu'an! -Marquis Wu'an!

Look over here, Marquis!

-Marquis Wu'an! -Marquis Wu'an!

-Look this way! -Marquis Wu'an!

Marquis Wu'an!

Look over here, Marquis!

XIE

Halt.

Look over here!

Changyu,

why do you not throw something too?

I did not bring anything.

Just toss something!

Does anyone have a handkerchief?

-Anyone got a handkerchief? -Anyone bring one?

What is the fun in that?

Come on. Let me show you how it is done.

Watch me knock him out.

What are you doing?

-I… -You what?

GUO'S TAVERN

Marquis Wu'an!

Marquis Wu'an!

Marquis Wu'an!

Whose ribbon was that?

Could it be Marquis Wu'an already has someone he likes?

So many girls threw handkerchiefs along the road,

yet the Marquis paid them no heed.

Which family's young lady could that be?

Is that not the Flower-Adorned General?

It really is General Fan.

Look!

Over here!

Over here!

Our General Fan is every bit as formidable as any man.

No wonder the Marquis favors her.

-What is so impressive about that? -Our Marquis

-is a man of war, not petty romance. -Exactly.

That pig butcher of yours is not worthy of him at all.

Not worthy!

Our Flower-Adorned General has fought countless battles,

captured Prince Changxin, and earned great merit.

She wouldn't stoop to marry your Marquis.

Stop flattering yourselves.

-Exactly. -Stop flattering yourselves.

Our Marquis is a hero among men.

He would never lower himself for a mere pig butcher.

Exactly. She's a pig butcher.

-What's there to brag about? -Her achievements speak for themselves.

She'd never marry a rough soldier like him.

-He's not some rough soldier! -Watch your words!

Stop arguing already.

We just want to watch a good romance unfold between a hero and a beauty.

Can you all stop shouting?

Exactly.

-Look at that. -Exactly.

-Marquis Wu'an! -Look at me!

Look this way!

XIE

-Marquis Wu'an! -Marquis Wu'an!

Marquis Wu'an!

Marquis Wu'an!

TAVERN

Heaven is unjust.

XIE FAMILY MAUSOLEUM

HONOR THE ANCESTORS, UNITE THE CLAN

When a man grows old,

his memory starts to fail.

Today,

I even forgot to bring your favorite osmanthus cakes.

You come here every year on this day.

What is it? Are my parents

too peaceful down there,

so you come to stir their anger once a year?

You have been hiding for several days.

At last, you show yourself.

Today is your mother's death anniversary.

Let the fighting and killing wait for another day.

No matter how serious the matter,

it can wait until we paid respects to your parents.

Come.

HONOR THE ANCESTORS, UNITE THE CLAN

SPIRIT TABLET OF THE LATE LORD XIE LINSHAN SPIRIT TABLET OF HIS WIFE, LADY WAN

Chancellor, you dismissed your guards.

Are you not afraid

I might demand a blood debt from you?

Your mother is watching us here.

Why would I put you in a difficult spot here

and disturb her peace?

After all these years,

you have finally learned to show care for your own sister.

Seventeen years ago,

when you recalled the troops and rushed back to the capital,

did you ever consider

that your reckless decision

would cost my father and mother their lives?

I will say it again.

Seventeen years ago,

I returned to the capital under imperial command to suppress a rebellion.

Is that so?

Then dare you swear a bitter oath

before my parents' tablets?

Very well. Since we have come this far,

let me

have a frank word with you.

I raised you

for one reason only. To make you the future of the Xie and Wei families.

To bring honor to both our houses

and guard the peace of Dayin.

That is why

I poured all my effort into raising you.

Raising me?

You merely forged a blade fit for your hand.

You just never expected

that blade

would one day turn against you.

And you

are the one who has disgraced our house

and thrown the realm into turmoil.

Bewitched by the daughter of your enemy,

you forget loyalty and filial duty.

And you dare speak to me of loyalty to family and country?

Today, before your parents,

you will sever all ties with Fan Changyu.

What right do you have

to say such things to me here?

I raised you for 17 years.

Is that not enough?

Do you acknowledge it

or not?

I acknowledge it.

As your uncle,

standing in place of your father and mother,

today,

I will punish you by clan law.

Tell him

the sentence.

According to clan rules,

disloyalty and unfilial conduct merit 108 lashes.

Good.

Every lash today,

I will take willingly.

Let this repay what I owe you.

But from this day forward,

never again speak of raising me

or debts of gratitude. Those words sicken me.

Come!

Our ancestors were upright,

their names honored in history.

Their teachings to sons and grandsons

were always rooted in righteousness.

BY IMPERIAL GRACE

HONOR THE ANCESTORS, UNITE THE CLAN

Thirty-five.

Thirty-six.

Thirty-seven.

Thirty-eight.

Thirty-nine.

Forty.

FAMILY PRECEPTS

HONOR THE ANCESTORS, UNITE THE CLAN

Ninety-nine.

One hundred and four.

One hundred and six.

One hundred and seven.

One hundred and eight.

Yan Zheng.

Yan Zheng.

You should not have come.

I know I shouldn't have.

What about you?

You knew Wei Yan would be here.

Why come alone?

Why submit to this punishment?

General Fan, forcing your way into the Xie family mausoleum

is rather improper.

I am not only General Fan.

I am also the Marquis's wife.

Why can't I be here?

A proper marriage requires a parents' consent

and a matchmaker's word.

And besides,

where were the proper betrothal gifts?

As for that so-called live-in marriage,

even the name used was false.

How could such a union be taken seriously?

I have already taken the 108 lashes.

You have no right to decide my affairs.

A marriage letter is nothing but paper.

If I acknowledge it,

then it is real.

-Let's go home. -Wait.

Join me.

SPIRIT TABLET OF THE LATE LORD XIE LINSHAN SPIRIT TABLET OF HIS WIFE, LADY WAN

Father, Mother, please hear your son.

Fan Changyu, a woman of Lin'an.

She saved me…

from death's door.

When my heart had gone cold,

she taught it to love again.

I have spent more than ten years on the battlefield.

All that time, I never felt truly alive.

Until I met her.

Only then did I see life was worth living.

Before your spirits above, I make this vow.

This woman

is the companion of my life.

I will never betray this vow.

My heart will stay true till death.

I will never betray this vow.

My heart will stay true till death.

My lord.

Zheng.

Zheng.

Zheng.

What happened to you?

How did you get hurt this badly?

I am fine, Aunt.

This is Fan Changyu,

my wife.

Aunt.

The Flower-Adorned General.

I have long heard of your reputation.

When my life hung by a thread,

she saved me.

We have

pledged ourselves to one another.

True till the end.

Changyu,

help Zheng inside and treat his wounds.

Zheng, come.

The night air is cold and heavy.

Why have you come here, my lady?

My lord, you forgot to bring the osmanthus cakes you prepared.

So I hurried over to deliver them.

Zheng's mother used to love osmanthus cakes.

You miss her,

so every year, you bring them for her.

This year should be no different.

It's for you.

This box is beautifully crafted.

Surely it came from a master artisan.

Then I must eat more each day

to make it worth

the trouble you went through for me.

Osmanthus cakes are very sweet. Do not eat too many.

I hear you.

They suit each other so well.

Even if Zheng's parents are gone from this world,

they would surely be pleased.

-Fifteen, 20, ten! -Fifteen, 20, ten!

-Fifteen, 20, 20! -Fifteen, 20, ten!

Drink.

What kind of nonsense game is this from your hometown?

I have lost all night long.

Again.

-Fifteen, 20, -Fifteen, 20,

-20! -ten!

-Fifteen, 20, ten! -Fifteen, 20, ten!

Drink.

Come on.

Master.

What is it? Speak.

There are no outsiders here.

A letter has arrived for you.

I knew Xie Zheng would never give up searching for the truth.

All that talk about uncle and nephew was nonsense.

It seems the time has come.

Come with me.

What is it? It is so late.

I prepared a surprise for you.

A ceremonial robe for you.

What do you think?

Have you lost your mind?

That is the Empress's headdress!

Become my Empress.

Rule the realm beside me.

Stand shoulder to shoulder with me

and govern the empire.

And if I were Empress?

All you want is someone at your side,

so that when your dream shatters, you will not be alone.

What is it?

You do not like it?

At this point,

whether I like it or not

makes no difference.

You told me not to kill,

so I stopped.

And I have promised you

I will not harm that child again.

What more must I do

before you agree to be my Empress?

Kneel before me.

Beg me.

You expect me to kneel to you?

I am the Emperor of this realm.

What is it?

You do not want to?

I beg you.

Be my Empress.

Then I will wait for the day I become Empress.

That day will come soon.

TIGER TALLY

Stop playing around.

Give me back the tiger tally.

XIE RESIDENCE

Marquis.

Marquis.

Madam, what happened to him?

Take him to his room. Keep it quiet.

Yes.

Madam, perhaps you should rest.

I can look after the Marquis.

I will stay.

All of you may leave.

Unless something urgent happens, do not come in.

Yes.

Changyu.

After taking those 108 lashes…

I can finally marry you properly,

with matchmakers and the full rites.

So you had already decided

to atone this way.

Changyu.

Marry me,

will you?

We don't need to do it again.

You belong to me. Always have.

Mother…

No…

Mother…

Let me die.

This will cover your food and clothing for the rest of your life.

Take this bundle.

Deliver it safely to the General's residence.

After that, leave the capital.

Go as far away as you can. Never come back.

Madam, are you not coming with me?

His eyes are everywhere.

I cannot get away.

If I leave,

more people will die.

Go now.

Go.

You are awake.

Careful.

Thank you

for staying with me all night.

You took so many lashes because of me.

How could I leave you alone?

For years,

I thought Wei Yan despised me

because when I was little,

I went outside for osmanthus cakes,

and it gave my mother the chance to hang herself.

I blamed myself all these years.

But later, whether I retook Jinzhou to avenge them

or became Marquis Wu'an,

the only thing that returned in my dreams

was that sickening scent of osmanthus

and the hem of my mother's dress hanging from the beam.

I was still that crying child.

I never changed.

But now you have me.

I will protect you.

Do you know,

when you came out of Lin'an covered in wounds

just to find me,

I thought to myself,

what revenge?

Forget it.

I could not bear to see you cry.

But then,

I remembered I am a Xie.

My father was Xie Linshan.

I cannot even remember what he looked like.

But I still remember how his body

was cut open and his chest

was crudely stitched together with needle and thread.

And I remember the 67 arrow-shaped wounds

across his body.

Yan Zheng.

I have never blamed you.

Wei Yan is your uncle.

He raised you for 17 years.

Now the debt is repaid.

The vengeance must be taken.

Do not punish yourself

for others' sins.

All right.

The time has come.

At the palace banquet in three days,

I will enter the palace myself

and bring the palace maid witness out with me.

I will help you.

Come in.

Marquis. Madam.

The falcon brought back a chess record from the palace.

Mr. Gongsun deciphered it.

He sent this for you, Marquis.

What is it?

Wei Yan had an affair with an imperial consort.

LEARNING AND INTEGRITY

This woman is the companion of my life.

I will never betray this vow.

My heart will stay true till death.

My dearest Yan,

your letter has brightened my day.

Since we parted, my longing for you has only deepened.

Whenever I sit to dress my hair,

I wear the hairpin you liked best.

The garden blooms, alive with butterflies,

yet there is no one to share the view with.

The elders in my family have approved the marriage.

All auspicious signs have gathered.

Both families rejoice.

The wedding rites are ready,

and so are the gifts.

IMPERIAL CONSORT QI RONGYIN

Everything is in place now,

except for you.

I will never betray this vow.

My heart will stay true till death.

To my Yan,

when you read this, imagine me before you.

An imperial decree arrived without warning.

I have been summoned into the palace.

Bound by His Majesty's command,

I have no choice.

I still remember the letters you once sent.

Every tender word lingers in my heart,

as though you were speaking

beside my ear.

I remember the day you placed flowers in my hair.

Their fragrance still lingers.

It feels as though it happened yesterday.

The greatest sorrow in this world

is loving someone yet being unable to remain together.

From this day on, I will be confined in a golden cage,

while my heart wanders with the clouds.

If ever you see wild geese flying south,

know that my letters travel with them to you.

Rongyin,

written in tears before departure.

LI RESIDENCE

Grandfather.

Guards.

Take my dear brother into custody.

What is going on?

After the palace banquet,

you will understand.

You were only pretending to be ill.

Wenkan.

Do you know where you lost?

Those who achieve great things must act decisively

and never be swayed by emotion.

With a temperament like yours,

you were never meant for great ambition.

I act for the country.

You act for personal gain.

I could never be like you, pushing forward,

no matter the cost.

Foolish child.

All these years of loyalty from our family.

What did we gain from it?

What did it bring us?

Now that we have come this far,

there is no turning back.

We must ensure Qi Min takes the throne.

Even if he proves no benevolent ruler,

once the bow is drawn, the arrow cannot be recalled.

Wenkan,

our clan numbers in the thousands across nine branches.

If you continue unable to tell friend from foe

or insider from outsider,

you will bring ruin upon the entire family

and shake the very foundation of Dayin.

Since ancient times, the victor is king and the loser a criminal.

Only when it concerns

one's personal interests will one risk life for the country.

You have read too many books.

They have made you naive.

Without my command,

he is not to leave the residence.

Yes.

NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS EPISODE

Subtitle translation by: Jiaxin Wang