Original subtitles

[Moonlit Reunion]

[Episode 4]

Maybe Xie Loubai didn't write this poem.

Seems like it was written by a woman.

My Lady?

What happened?

Nothing.

The servants reported

seeing an ill omen.

Right, yes.

An ill omen?

Why didn't I see anything?

Then they must have been mistaken.

Nothing's wrong.

Nothing at all.

The banquet continues.

Alright.

- Let's go back. - Let's head back.

Another round of drinks!

Exactly!

This is Chang'an, the Emperor's domain.

Nothing strange could happen here.

Where's that lantern from earlier?

Where did it go?

I'll go check outside.

Did you encounter the shadow demon again?

The Wight escaped once again.

Yes. It was here before the banquet.

Does it have legs? We can never catch it.

Then I'll just take the shadow demon away first.

Wait.

There's something you need to do.

Young Lord,

what brings you here?

I just

witnessed something.

A man and a woman alone in a dimly lit room. Honestly...

Indeed.

True to her reputation, Ms. Wu is

frivolous and unrestrained.

She's looking for a live-in husband.

Mr. Mei is a lucky man.

Absolutely.

- So lucky. - He's lucky.

Truly fortunate.

Whether marrying out or taking in a husband,

women are different from men after all.

They should mind their reputations more.

Well said.

Indeed.

Show yourself.

Cat entrusted you to me.

Today, I'll lend you a hand.

My Lord.

Don't worry.

I'll bring him to you shortly.

Mr. Xie.

Ms. Liu, I'm honored by your regard.

Meeting you here is truly a privilege.

The feeling is mutual.

I read the poetry collection you sent.

I adored them.

Every word reflects such sincerity,

such deep emotion.

You flatter me, Ms. Liu.

But

I've heard they weren't written by you.

You're joking.

Who spread such rumors?

I did.

Just now...

Ghost.

Ghost!

Take a closer look at her.

Don't you recognize her?

[Yunyi] My Lord.

And you're...?

What do you want?

What kind of trick are you playing?

Mr. Xie.

You were the one who sent Yunyi here.

Yunyi? I don't know her.

About three or four years ago,

Yunyi was renowned for her talents in a brothel in Chang'an.

You were her patron.

This stained-glass lantern was Yunyi's most treasured thing.

The silhouette on it is hers.

But you took it,

had it repaired,

and then gifted it to me.

Ms. Liu, what are you implying?

I don't understand.

My Lord.

My Lord.

Stay...

Stay back!

My Lord.

Let me remind you

how you stole fame

and built your reputation!

Let go of me.

I don't know you!

Back then, I was in a brothel.

You rode past on horseback below.

Astride your horse, by the leaning bridge.

Fair maids wave from towers high.

I thought I'd finally met a good man.

That single glance

made me give you my heart.

Sleeping in hills, dwelling in vales, all just a passing dream.

Yet grand steeds and carriages stir not my heart.

A fine poem.

Before, I loved writing poetry.

But since I lived in a brothel,

I never went out.

Few knew me.

And I refused to use my poems as a tool to elevate my social status

or attract patrons.

After meeting you,

I entrusted my savings and my poems to you.

I asked you to have them published.

But after handing them over to you,

I've heard nothing since.

Whenever I asked,

you'd say my poems were immature and mediocre,

and that no one liked them.

Until one day,

I came across a poetry collection.

Someone!

Help! Help!

As I flipped through it,

I found that they were all my works.

But they were signed with your name!

When you took my poems as your own

and were thus hailed as a prodigy,

did you ever feel a moment's guilt?

Help! Help!

Yun Yi's painstaking verses

ended up benefiting you.

You were shameless back then.

Now you're afraid?

My Lord, you owe me an explanation.

What explanation?

Who do you think you are?

Just some

nameless courtesan.

What?

Did you think publishing a poetry collection was so simple?

Under your name?

it would've been impossible!

But those poems were written by me.

Written by you?

But what they're interested in isn't your poems.

[Xie Loubai's Poetry Collection]

It's my name.

It doesn't matter whether your poems are good or bad.

In fact, you should thank me.

Otherwise, this poetry collection

would never have seen the light of day.

My Lord. My Lord!

When you heard of Yunyi's incident,

instead of remorse,

you spread lies that she'd killed herself in bitter resentment

after failing to force you into marriage.

I didn't. You're lying!

Xie Loubai,

and you still refuse to admit it?

I can't believe

you gave Yunyi's belongings to me.

But there's one thing you didn't know.

Yunyi was no ordinary person.

She was born from a century-old lantern's shadow.

It's just that her demonic powers were weak.

She never dared to do anything evil.

You mean

she was a demon all along?

When the stained-glass lantern went out,

I turned back into my true form

and perished on this lantern.

Until you lit it again.

My Lord,

I'm holding on to this last breath

just to see

what will become

of a fraudster like you!

Help! Help!

I won't plagiarize anymore!

Never again!

Help! Help!

I won't plagiarize again!

I'll never plagiarize again!

Help!

Alright, Yunyi.

That's enough.

I know you had this chance to relight

because you had unfulfilled wishes.

But taking his life isn't the best revenge.

Yunyi,

someone asked me to tell you this.

What?

Instead of killing him,

it's better to expose his crimes to the world.

Let him be ruined and despised by all.

Let him watch

as the reputation he stole crumbles.

That's a fate

worse than death.

This might be

for the best.

You owe this chance to the Wight.

But now your time runs short.

I once yearned so deeply for human warmth,

only to find hearts colder than ice,

freezing me to the core.

All those promises

have gone with the wind.

Poetry eludes me.

Truly, it is utterly dull.

Still, having this experience

in this world

is enough.

Yun...

It seems she's gone.

All she wanted

was for Xie Loubai to receive his retribution.

Now that she's gone,

I believe she has no regrets.

Hypocrite!

You hypocrite!

It is said that Xie Loubai and Ms. Yunyi

had intimate relations.

[Xie Mansion] He took advantage of her trust

and claimed her poems as his own,

robbing her of poetic fame,

With no path to justice,

the woman

died in resentment.

At last night's banquet in Liu Mansion,

he was consumed by guilt.

And his inner demons

drove him

to madness.

What a satisfying end.

The brighter Ms. Yunyi's poetic fame becomes,

the louder Xie's infamy spreads.

As it should be.

Xie Loubai

deserves to grovel in Yunyi's shadow.

Well said, sir.

This is what is called

"you reap what you sow."

[Taiji Gate]

Ms. Wu.

Ms. Wu.

We're here already?

Ms. Wu, mind your decorum.

You should live at the mansion more often.

Keep some distance from Ms. Huzhu.

Or she'll corrupts you further.

What did you want to see me about?

Your marriage, of course.

I knew it.

I've reviewed

Mr. Mei's essays several times

these past few days.

Mei Zhuyu

is truly talented.

His mindset and vision

set him apart from those aristocratic youths.

Those young men see only Chang'an's splendor.

They turn a blind eye to the sufferings of the people

and shy from the uncanny.

They never think

about the hidden crises behind this flourishing scene.

So...

So what do you mean?

I mean

Mr. Mei has some talent.

You have feelings for him, and fate has brought you together.

You should spend time with him.

Why give up so soon?

You told Mingzhuang to say

he wasn't right for me.

Now you're backtracking?

Did...

Did I say that?

You did.

Or you didn't?

Zhen, you've been going against me for twenty years.

You've always been sneaky

and done the opposite of what I say.

Why obey so readily this time?

So now my obedience is a fault?

Your Majesty, you're so hard to please.

Hard to please?

Who's hard to please?

Your Majesty!

Yes?

[Emperor] Your Majesty, look at her.

You've spoiled her rotten.

What does that have to do with me?

It's you!

You shower her

with exotic gifts nonstop.

See how you've spoiled her?

Fickle, ungrateful,

capricious and heartless!

Don't be mad, please.

Ms. Wu has discerning tastes.

It must be the fault of my distant cousin.

She's so picky.

As if no one is good enough for her?

She might as well marry an immortal!

Hey, where are you going?

Mei...

Come on.

Your knees must be numb by now.

Zhen,

you've had quite the ordeal.

Your Majesty,

you've had your share as well.

To be honest,

I support you.

After all, getting married is no fun at all.

I'm a living example.

Really?

Look at those two.

Look at those two.

They two really get along.

Always together, inseparable.

But what about me?

I don't even have company at meals.

Might as well enjoy my freedom alone.

Sometimes I wonder

what's the point of marrying them.

There is a point. Definitely a point.

Now that the lantern has dispersed,

where could the Wight have gone?

When I went to the study that day,

it was already gone from the lantern.

Now that it's gone,

what do we do?

Zhen, think carefully.

Who could have taken the Wight?

Could it be Mei Zhuyu?

Why would he want it?

Perhaps Xuanjian Division took it as evidence

for an mysterious case?

The Four Sects mustn't learn of this.

Or those old demons will cause trouble again.

Too late.

The elders already know.

- How did they know? - How did they know?

[Elder Hui, Four Sects of the Demon Market]

[Elder Jin, Four Sects of the Demon Market]

[Elder Zi, Four Sects of the Demon Market]

[Elder Bai, Four Sects of the Demon Market]

When I went to the hot springs,

I happened to run into Hui Sect's rat demon, Qishi.

We were soaking together

and just chatting casually.

I let it slip.

You normally babble nonsense.

But how dare you gossip about this?

Just small talk among the kids.

Snake Lord, why so angry?

The shadow demon matter is settled,

but regarding the Wight,

Cat Lord never mentioned it to us.

What?

Does she no longer respect

the Four Sects' oversight?

Elder Hui,

I'm sure Cat Lord would never do that.

She must be busy with official duties.

Indeed, Elder Hui.

You overthink things.

I didn't inform the Four Sects about this.

Because I planned to find the Wight first

and then tell everyone.

The Wight

isn't anything rare.

This world teems with resentful spirits.

It's not surprising

that the Wight appears occasionally.

Lords, since you two

make this matter so trivial,

then bringing the Wight back to the Demon Market

should be effortless, right?

I'm already searching for it.

Empty words won't do.

Cat Lord, how about we set a deadline?

If you fail

to bring back the Wight,

then we'll settle

all accounts at once.

Elder Hui.

Fine.

I agree.

Within five days,

I'll deliver it to you.

Deal.

Mr. Shu?

Mr. Shu.

What's wrong?

Are you angry?

This matter is beyond my control.

It's my duty.

Otherwise...

I've said it before.

I despise those who oppose her.

Mr. Shu, you're joking.

I don't joke.

You know that.

Qishi.

About that... matter,

how's the progress?

This is my fault.

The Demon Market affairs are overwhelming,

and now the Wight must be found.

I wonder if Cat Lord can handle it all.

Maybe I should assist her...

No need.

She has me.

We've investigated thoroughly.

There are no traces of the Wight in Xuanjian Division,

Mei Si's place or even the Liu Mansion.

Then that only leaves Mei Zhuyu's place.

Ms. Wu. what brings you here?

To see you, of course.

Did you think

I traveled all this way to enjoy flowers?

Why see me?

Enchanted by your charm. I couldn't resist.

I knew you were off duty today,

so I came to find you for some fun.

Never expected the road to your place to be so terrible.

I twisted my ankle

and got my shoes dirty on the way here.

What are you going to do about it?

Which foot did you twist?

No major damage to the bone.

You can treat injuries?

A little.

Young Lord, you're handsome

and talented too.

Since you're fine now,

- then how about... - I'll rest inside.

Wait!

Can you cook?

My Lady, what would you like to eat?

Anything works.

Come in, please!

The house isn't large.

Where could it be?

My Lord,

I think Her Ladyship is quite serious about you.

Don't be ridiculous.

She's probably just amusing herself.

She won't come every day.

You again?

Just passing by. Here for a meal.

Well, you...

Wait.

Ms. Wu,

it's not appropriate for you

to keep visiting me.

If others see,

it'll harm your reputation.

Don't worry, Young Lord.

You're not exactly popular.

No one will notice.

And my reputation is already bad.

It can't get any worse.

Eat up.

Young Lord.

I heard you're knowledgeable.

I came here specifically to seek your advice.

Wenhua, set the table.

I brought gifts.

New wine from Ruyi Pavilion.

Took you long enough.

Been waiting forever. Give it here.

Ms. Wu, how did you get in?

By climbing over the wall.

Days of searching, yet no sign of the Wight.

Could it be on the Young Lord?

Young Lord.

You look like a frail scholar,

but you're quite strong.

Ms. Wu, what are you doing?

Your waist is so slender.

Zhen,

you really go to Zhuyu's place

for meals every day?

You're probably not really after the meals, are you?

I'm there for the person.

The meals are just a bonus.

I wonder where Zhuyu

found this little follower of his.

His cooking skills are not bad.

Outside Chang'an.

On my way back,

I ran into a group of brokers leaving the city.

Wenhua was among them.

Though he'd lost his family,

he grew up in Chang'an and refused to leave.

So I bought him and brought him back.

We can take care of each other that way.

Well, he seems to be taking good care of you.

Look at you, radiant and glowing.

Radiant and glowing?

I don't think that has anything to do with Wenhua.

Well, Wenhua went to hitch the carriage.

I'll go check on the tea.

But why invite us to dine today?

Zhen,

I haven't seen you in days.

Besides,

what's going on between you two?

You go to his place to mooch meals

and ask Father to take care of him?

Are you actually into Zhuyu?

He's good-looking.

Why can't I like him?

You two don't seem like a good match.

What makes you say that?

Think about it.

With the Empress and Duke of Wu's status,

they'd want you to find a royal

or a scion of a noble family.

My cousin

has no wealth, no power,

and little ambition.

You two aren't a good fit.

What's so great about royals

or scions of noble families?

This world is vast.

Not everyone is obsessed with power and gain.

All the common people and living creatures

have their own ways of surviving.

Take Mr. Mei, for example.

Everyone thinks he's powerless

and out of place.

But I admire him.

He never bows to authority

or flatters superiors.

He doesn't fawn over me for my status

or agonize over my provocations.

He cares nothing for romance

or wealth and power.

Now that you mention it,

that does seem to be the case.

When I look at him,

I always feel like he's a little helpless beast all alone.

♪A glimpse of your silhouette♪

He silently adheres to his beliefs

in a world that doesn't belong to him.

His beliefs?

♪The rustling of leaves by the doorstep♪

Si,

given our status,

we're used to people obsessed with power and gain.

♪May I borrow this time of peace?♪

Yet he's laughably pure.

♪To express my tenderness I hold within♪

You know what he said?

♪That confession of "my heart delights in you"♪

Upholding justice

- Eliminating evil - and eliminating evil

- can be done anywhere. - can be done anywhere.

One just needs to do their own job well.

♪At the moment I met you♪

He focuses solely on doing his own job well.

♪I felt as if I had wings of light♪

Such a noble and upright man

is naturally appealing.

♪Every sight my eyes behold shines bright as stars♪

But his life is so lonely.

I asked you all to take care of him

so he'd feel some warmth.

I never expected you

♪I'll follow you wherever you roam♪

to be as much of a romantic

as I am.

♪Through life's journey, love is our guiding decree♪

♪Fear no mountain, nor dread the mile♪

[Liu Mansion]

♪You are the purpose of my lifelong quest♪

Awesome, right?

Sorry, everyone.

I'm late.

I didn't expect the demon in the Liu Mansion to be so powerful.

Tell Ms. Liu

not to worry.

I'm here to save her.

What demon?

It's perfectly peaceful here.

It's you who's been pestering her

all the time.

Utterly inappropriate!

Don't lie to me.

I've seen it all.

Mei Si.

What's gotten into you so early in the morning?

My mansion is peaceful,

and I'm in good health.

You've seen for yourself.

Now leave.

No, I don't believe it.

If there's nothing wrong,

why are you talking to me from so far away?

Something must be off.

I'm not leaving easily!

I brought these from the temple.

Let me ward off the evil for you!

Here I come!

Release the dogs.

Ms. Wu,

the deadline with the Four Sects is near.

Have you found the Wight?

Have some water first.

Found it.

Lies right under our noses.

We've been searching for the Wight for days,

and it turns out it was on him all along.

On him?

How come Mr. Mei, a mortal,

wasn't tempted by the Wight?

I don't know.

Anyway,

we need to get the Wight back as soon as possible.

No half measures.

Let's just knock him out.

We can't do that.

He's from Xuanjian Division

and is very cautious.

We have to be more careful.

Don't worry about the Four Sects.

Even if we can't get it back, so what?

Even if they make a fuss,

I'll shield you from it.

What are you doing?

Before, Ling Xiao mentioned the hot spring.

I was thinking,

maybe the medicinal ingredients are right,

but the method of administration is wrong?

You're not thinking of making me take a medicinal bath, are you?

You know me too well.

I'm developing a medicinal bath method.

I think I've got it.

Knock him out!

A personal belonging.

Seems we'll need the right moment to take it.

Who's there?

♪Blossoms drift, and the world grows pale♪

♪Memory brews a bitter tale♪

♪Vows of forever fade in the breeze♪

♪Without you, all fades into nothing♪

♪Past joys and sorrows tangle in dreams♪

♪The deepest pain is parting's gleam♪

♪A lifetime vowed to share with you♪

♪Yet still beyond my reach, it flew♪

♪Petals drift, then fade from sight♪

♪How is falling for love not right?♪

♪Moonlight chills the breath I keep♪

♪I hold you close, but silence runs deep♪

♪Petals drift, then fade from sight♪

♪How is falling for love not right?♪

♪Your glance flickers, memories bloom♪

♪How can I find you through the gloom?♪

♪What hope survives beyond the doom?♪