Original subtitles

Sir,

Ms. Gu's been looking for you these days.

She asked if you're free tomorrow.

She'd like to meet you.

What's up? Why so urgent?

Well...

I'm not sure.

Remind me tomorrow

to bring that jewelry set I just got.

The color

would suit her well.

Sir,

Ms. Xue is here.

She's waiting at your office.

You let her in?

Yes.

She said she had an appointment.

Go take ten strokes of the paddle.

You seem to like it here

so much.

Why not just move in?

There are plenty of

empty rooms.

The conditions aren't bad either.

For your father's sake,

I could set one aside just for you.

You dare talk to me like this

because you know

I have feelings for you.

The day I'm over you,

you'll pay for it.

Xue Qinglan!

Take it easy.

I do like you,

but I know where the line is.

This is the governmental office,

not your house.

I'm not here to cause trouble.

What brings you here?

I came to tell you something.

What is it?

Say it

and get out.

Chen Yanyun

has asked Mr. Gu for his daughter's hand.

What did you say?

Which daughter?

Who else could it be?

Gu Jinzhao, of course.

Nonsense!

Why would I make this up?

Ladies of every noble household

already know about this.

And Chen Yanyun,

to show the Gu family respect,

even invited the wife

of Grand Secretary He to be the matchmaker.

You're lying.

I don't believe you.

You must be lying.

This is impossible.

Ye Xian!

Get lost!

Giddy up.

Greetings, Young Lord.

Young Lord?

What...

What's going on?

Quick, go inform Mrs. Feng.

Yes.

I'm not even afraid of Lord Chen.

Why would I be afraid of you?

Greetings, Uncle.

Nice to meet you.

As my elder,

did you bring me a first-meeting gift?

Wait.

Your hand is injured.

What happened?

You're awake?

Are you

still feeling unwell?

Hey.

Thank you.

Lord Ye is here?

Yes.

The servant said he's storming

straight toward Jinzhao's courtyard.

At this time of day,

why would he come looking for Jinzhao?

Ma'am,

I heard the servants gossiping

Young Lord treats Ms. Jinzhao

far better than

the other young ladies.

That might have been fine before,

but Ms. Jinzhao

is now engaged

to Lord Chen.

You're right.

We can't let him see Jinzhao.

Go, stop him.

Yes.

Wait.

We can't let word of this spread.

Cuilyu,

go inform Deyuan

and have the inner courtyard gate guarded.

Yes, ma'am.

Hurry up.

Remember,

don't let a single stranger in.

And don't let a word of this get out.

Got it.

I'd better go myself.

Forgive me

for being blunt.

Have you told Xian about

your betrothal to Lord Chen?

How do you plan to tell him?

I...

I wanted to tell him.

I just...

I'll meet him tomorrow.

What are you gonna do?

He likes you so much.

You have no idea.

Military noble families are in decline.

They say

His Excellency

is looking to

make an example of my dad.

Who knows

what trouble Xian might cause?

I'm sorry, Jinzhao.

I'm not trying to pressure you.

But you know Xian's temper,

and you're engaged to Chen Yanyun.

Honestly,

I don't know how to bring it up.

What?

Has he never

confessed to you?

What a fool.

Since we're talking about this,

I'll ask something

I probably shouldn't.

Do you

have feelings for Xian?

I've always

seen him as a good friend.

What did you say?

Answer me.

What did you just say?

Say it again.

Xian,

just calm down.

So it's all true?

You're marrying Chen Yanyun,

right?

Yes.

I meant to

tell you sooner.

Xian!

Step back.

Why?

Why?

Because I love him.

I was going to tell you tomorrow.

I didn't expect you

to come over today.

Xian...

You love him?

I don't believe it.

You're lying.

Miss! Miss!

It's not true.

Young Lord,

what brings you here today?

- Why not go to the... - Shut up!

You're his sister.

Are you just gonna let

him make a scene here?

Xian, put the sword down.

Xian.

Calm down.

Put it down and let's talk.

You love him?

Fine.

Great.

You actually love him.

Lord, I'm sorry.

Xian.

Take Jinzhao out through the back gate.

- Yes. - Yes.

Xian, come home with me.

Miss, let's go.

Miss, we have to go.

Come on.

Please listen to us.

Hurry up.

This way.

Let's go now.

Gu Jinzhao!

Xian!

Fetch a doctor! Now!

Xian...

Miss?

Don't follow me.

None of you.

Lord Ye?

Xian!

- Young Lord? - Xian!

Jinzhao? Jinzhao?

Jinzhao?

Quick, ease her down.

Jinzhao? Jinzhao?

It's fine. It's all right.

Jinzhao.

Yanyun?

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Please get up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Excellency.

Minister Chen,

Mr. Fu told me yesterday

that you're marrying

that Ms. Gu who

once struck the Petition Drum.

I was really curious,

so I

summoned you

to ask you in person.

Your Majesty,

Lord Chen is still under censure.

Summoning him to the palace

is against the law.

I know.

It won't happen again.

Minister Chen,

when did you

plan to marry

Ms. Gu?

Your Majesty, this...

Your Majesty,

how could you pry into

your minister's private affairs?

Then let me rephrase.

Minister Chen,

I've heard

that Ms. Gu's maternal family

has been working for you.

Have you been acquainted for quite some time?

Your Majesty,

I have many memorials to review.

I'll leave you and Yanyun to it.

Please excuse me.

Zhang Fang,

see Mr. Fu out.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Take care, Your Excellency.

Your Majesty,

Ms. Gu and I...

I'm hungry.

Go fetch some pastries.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Today

the Censor impeached Lord Changxing

for disrespecting the Emperor.

Mr. Fu insists he be dealt with severely.

But I want to spare him and his family.

I can't

openly cross Mr. Fu,

so

I'm asking you to handle this.

What

I never expected is that His Majesty

would tell you directly

to protect Lord Changxing.

Doesn't that put you

directly against His Excellency?

Could His Majesty be testing you?

A test, yes.

But it's also an order.

As for the relief grain case,

I took the full blame on behalf of

the Ministry of Revenue.

It was

Wang Xuanfan's idea,

but Master said

nothing throughout.

That's enough for His Majesty to suspect

the plan had his tacit approval.

Moreover,

His Majesty would also suspect

that this might

drive a wedge between

me and Master.

His Majesty is

growing faster

than we anticipated.

But even with His Majesty's order,

if His Excellency is set on

bringing down Lord Changxing,

what can we possibly do?

Let's go see Ye Xian first.

Sir?

- Sir? - Stay back.

Chen Yanyun.

Ye Xian,

have you lost your mind?

Right, I'm insane.

Go to hell!

Sir!

Don't come closer.

Mr. Ye's impeached for disrespecting the Emperor

and will face severe punishment.

And yet here you are,

trying to kill me over a woman?

Sir?

Ms. Gu and I are in love.

You think you can come between us?

In your dreams.

Chen Yanyun,

you and I are sworn enemies!

Sir?

Spread the word that today,

Ye Xian stopped my carriage

in the street and tried to kill me

out of jealousy.

The more people know, the better.

Got it.

Ye Guangsheng, Lord Changxing,

defies the late Emperor, disrespects the throne,

acts stubbornly and arrogantly,

and neglects his duties.

The Punishment Bureau is to

arrest Lord Changxing, detain him,

and investigate thoroughly,

to appease Heaven's wrath.

I, Ye Xian,

receive the decree.

Sir?

Come

with me to

arrest Lord Changxing.

This...

Wait outside for half an hour.

Yes, sir.

Sir, Ma'am,

Young Lord is back.

Dad, mom.

Still remember the way home?

Xian,

you've lost weight.

You're tanned too.

Have you eaten?

Sit and have dinner with us.

If you're not hungry, that's fine.

I'd like that.

Great.

Come over.

Quick.

Tell the kitchen to add

a dish of pork stir-fried with daylily,

radish meatball soup,

and

meat-stuffed flatbreads.

That's

Xian's favorite.

Yes, ma'am.

Xian,

is work at

the Punishment Bureau busy?

It's fine.

Fine?

I heard you went to Shanxi not long ago

and nearly got yourself killed.

What?

How was it so dangerous?

You fought on the battlefield.

You could have died at any moment too.

That's different.

I was fighting enemies.

But you?

You're just a pawn in power struggles

and

a blade in His Majesty's hand.

He rarely comes home.

Why bring all this up?

Am I wrong?

Go ask around

about what

the Punishment Bureau does.

Everyone in this court

serves His Majesty.

Who would dare refuse?

You!

You're an educated man.

Was everything you

learned for nothing?

I don't care what you think.

I'll submit a memorial to the Empress Dowager

and have you transferred tomorrow.

I've already

spoken to your Uncle Song.

He'll move you to the Ministry of War.

I'm not going.

And Uncle Song

won't listen to you.

Bastard, you dare defy me?

Here's the imperial decree.

Sir?

This is absurd.

Since His Majesty's coronation,

I've been injured and stayed home.

What am I guilty of?

If you have grievances,

save them for prison.

The imperial order cannot be delayed.

I'll be waiting outside.

Please come out

within 15 minutes.

Xian!

Mom,

I have to...

Brat! You brat!

You're killing your own father!

Sir?

If I were you,

I'd volunteer to be imprisoned with him.

At least that way,

no one in the Punishment Bureau

can lay a hand on him.

It may be his only chance.

Why should I trust you?

Sir!

Deputy Hu.

Sir?

The Censor has impeached Lord Changxing.

As the heir,

I should also be detained.

So tie me up as well.

You bastard,

what are you doing?

Sir,

there's really no need for this.

What?

You won't obey

my orders anymore?

Got it.

Xian, you can't go!

Don't go!

Xian!

Xian, no!

No!

Xian! Xian!

Don't!

Ma'am.

Xian, come back! Xian!

Lord!

Xian!

[Chen Yanyun,]

[I've done as you said.]

[If you dare trick me,]

[I will tear you apart.]

Sir...

Sir,

last night Lord Ye

personally arrested Lord Changxing

and asked to be imprisoned too.

They've both been taken away.

I was worried that,

because of Ms. Gu,

he wouldn't trust you anymore.

I didn't expect him

to go through with it.

He's got guts.

What's

our next move?

Stir things up.

What do you mean?

Lord Changxing holds too much prestige.

Master

doesn't just want him dead.

He wants

his reputation destroyed.

His Majesty wants to save him

but won't

get support in court.

So we have to find another way.

Ye Xian arresting his dad

is a grave breach of filial duty.

But he voluntarily walked to prison.

That proves they're innocent.

Those two facts together

can cause a stir across the capital.

Once the public outcry is strong enough,

His Majesty has grounds to intervene

and can find reasons

to reduce the sentence.

Brilliant.

Of all charges,

disrespecting the throne is the most slippery.

Built on rumors,

with no solid proof.

It's the easiest way to pin a crime

on someone out of thin air.

And because there's no evidence,

it can be punished harshly

or

quietly dismissed.

But what I can do

is only to preserve Mr. Ye's reputation.

As for saving his life,

that's hard.

Ruixiang,

bring me another wine.

Stop drinking.

You've already had two.

Don't you always

look down on people

who drown their sorrows in drink?

You say they have no backbone,

and that

if someone angers you, just stab them.

Why are you acting like this now?

Stab them?

Who?

Your brother?

I can't beat him.

Ye Xian? I couldn't bring myself to.

Maybe

I'll stab

Gu Jinzhao instead.

Stop talking nonsense.

It's not like you have grudges against her.

Don't tell me

you like Yanyun?

Who said I'm into

the scheming type?

The one I like is Ye Xian.

Well, problem solved.

Jinzhao doesn't like him.

She isn't competing with you.

That's the problem.

I'd rather she did.

At least then

we could have a fight.

But now?

She acts like she doesn't care,

while Xian's lost his mind.

Storming the Gu Manor

and trying to kill Yanyun in the street.

But that's very much my style.

Yeah.

I never thought he

would like Jinzhao that much.

And I definitely

didn't expect

Yanyun to be charmed by her too.

You know what,

he went against

my mom over her

and even

invited Mrs. He to act as matchmaker.

I've never

seen him like this over anyone.

But honestly,

it's hard

not to like Jinzhao.

Says who?

She's a terrible friend.

She knew I liked Xian.

Why didn't she tell me

he liked her?

She just wanted to laugh at me.

Don't be mad.

I don't think she

meant to hide it from you.

Think about it.

She's unmarried,

and you two aren't very close.

You suddenly

tell her you like Xian.

What is she supposed to say?

You expect her to say

'don't bother, he likes me,

but I don't like him back'?

You...

You're confusing me.

Anyway, whether she

meant it or not,

she's my rival now.

I'm not making friends with her,

and neither are you.

I don't need to be her friend.

She's going to be my sister-in-law.

You brat,

get over here.

Miss! Miss!

Bad news.

Lord Ye

is thrown in the Punishment Bureau prison.

What?

What happened?

The Censor impeached

Lord Changxing for disrespecting the Emperor.

His Majesty ordered a severe punishment.

Lord Ye

arrested Lord Changxing

and asked to be imprisoned with him.

Could you go

beg Yanyun

and ask him to save Xian?

I...

He never lets the family

meddle in court affairs.

I doubt he'd listen to me.

Fine.

If he won't listen to you,

I'll find

someone he will.

What?

Xian's in the Punishment Bureau prison?

It happened last night.

It's said that

Lord Changxing's

committed a grave crime

and will be dealt with harshly.

Both Lord Changxing and Young Lord

have been locked up.

Jinzhao.

Aunt Ye.

Xian and my dad

have been imprisoned.

I have

no other options,

so I come to beg you.

Could you go

ask Lord Chen

to save them?

Don't.

Please get up.

I heard about it too.

I was just about to

speak with Mr. Chen about it.

You mustn't go.

Ye,

didn't I warn you

not to come begging Jinzhao?

Why won't you listen?

Ye Xian caused

such a scene that day.

You still have the nerve to ask Jinzhao

to beg Lord Chen?

Don't you know what crime

your dad is accused of?

Disrespecting the Emperor.

The entire Ye clan could be wiped out.

You think

the Gu family hasn't

suffered enough?

And now you wanna

drag us down with your family?

Don't forget

you're my daughter-in-law now.

I've married into the Gu family,

but I'm still a daughter of the Ye family.

If you fear I'll drag you into this,

have Dexiu write me a letter of divorce.

You think I

wouldn't dare?

I'm warning you.

Lord Changxing cannot

protect you anymore.

Fine.

Back when my family was at its peak,

you were eager

to curry our favor.

When we're in trouble,

you turn your backs

and cut ties.

You bunch of shameless snobs.

Just have Dexiu divorce me.

You disgust me.

Jinzhao,

I don't mean you.

I know

I'm asking the impossible.

But I have no other way.

You're my only hope.

Aunt Ye, don't worry.

I've promised to help you,

and I will.

Jinzhao.

Grandma,

even if you make Uncle Dexiu

divorce Aunt Ye now,

our two families are still bound together.

If Lord Changxing falls,

what good

does that do us?

We're family.

If we don't help them now,

then when?

Jinzhao,

I've heard Ye Xian

tried to kill Lord Chen in the street.

I've heard that too.

That's why

I have to go.

Qinglan?

You're here

for Xian as well?

That's right.

If you still consider

him a friend,

then ask your Yanyun

to save him.

Have a seat.

So,

is there any hope for Lord Changxing?

Originally, none.

But

Ye Xian is in prison too.

Now

there's a slight chance.

Right.

That day,

Lord Changxing was accused of rebellion.

Xian risked his life to protect His Majesty,

which proved those charges false.

Now he's gone to prison

with his father.

It may turn the tide again.

More than that.

He can also

keep Mr. Ye safe.

What?

Someone's planning

to kill him in there?

Just a precaution.

Do you have any way to save Xian?

I do,

but

it would mean wronging you.

I'm putting you

in charge of the Ye family case.

But I

haven't been reinstated.

After the case

is closed,

you can resume your position.

Master, thanks.

But

I'm not sure

if it's appropriate.

I've heard that

Ye Xian

tried to kill you

in broad daylight.

That's outrageous.

If you hadn't let it slide,

that alone would have been enough

to condemn

Lord Changxing.

It's nothing.

I thought it was

just a private matter.

No need to make a fuss.

But now

the whole court knows,

and everyone thinks he and I

are sworn enemies.

If I preside

over this case,

people will say

I can't possibly be impartial.

Let them talk.

Those who protest

are allies of the Ye family.

I was just looking for

an excuse.

Handle it as you see fit.

Leave the rest to me.

Yes.

Master,

in that case,

I won't waste any time.

I'll

go back

to prepare for the trial.

Go ahead.

Your Excellency.

You always have ways

to deal with Yanyun.

I'm doing this

all for you.

When I was in prison,

I kept wondering

who sent Ye Xian to Shanxi

and how he arrived precisely on time.

Then I recalled

Prince Glorian's

rebellion days ago.

Ye Xian also entered the palace

at just the right moment.

Put those two together,

and I'm certain

someone on our side

has been secretly

helping him all along.

And who do you think...

It can't be me,

and certainly not you.

He Wenxin only

cares about keeping his position

and never has ties

with Lord Changxing.

That leaves only one person,

Yanyun,

unless he comes down hard

on Lord Changxing this time.

Otherwise...

Sir,

word from Mr. Jiang.

As you predicted,

Wang Xuanfan went to

His Excellency's manor early this morning

and hasn't come out since.

He's trying to

turn Master against me.

Tell the Punishment Bureau

I'll interrogate Mr. Ye

and Ye Xian tomorrow morning.

I don't need you in here with me.

Dad,

your injuries haven't healed.

Just save your strength.

Looks like this time Fu Hailian

is determined to kill me.

You're here to keep me company?

You think that makes you a good son?

How foolish.

Get yourself out.

Protect your mom

and your sister.

If our family falls, so be it.

You never want to inherit the title anyway.

Just stop talking.

This way.

Why are you here?

Greetings,

Lord Changxing.

Fu Hailian

sent you to interrogate me, right?

Why doesn't he come himself?

Always scheming

from the shadows.

And he dare call himself

devoted and loyal?

His Excellency is busy

and cannot come in person.

But

I will be sure

to pass

your words on.

My son is

a bit simple-minded.

He came in because he feared

I'd suffer here.

This has nothing to do with him.

Release him first.

Dad.

Shut up.

Your love for your son

is truly moving.

But

perhaps you don't know

he

nearly stabbed me

to death in the street.

The fact that I'm standing here

is sheer luck.

The food here is crude.

I'm sure neither of you

has appetite

for it.

Then don't eat.

Take it all away.

How dare you...

What are you doing?

I'm

in charge of this case.

Lord Ye,

you better watch your mouth.

Sir,

the prisoners are awaiting trial.

We must keep them alive.

Bring Lord Changxing over.

Yes.

Guards.

Ask whatever you want.

My conscience is clear.

I

have nothing to ask.

These are my charges?

Your confession, actually.

You've admitted to

every charge.

All that's left is

your signature and thumbprint.

Sir?

The country is on the brink of ruin

because of treacherous officials like you.

Even if it costs me my life,

I'll rid the state of a scourge like you.

Mighty Lord Changxing,

still as imposing as ever.

But don't forget

your son is in my hands.