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[Spring of The Blade]

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[Episode 13]

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Our family did not come this far easily.

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To stop enduring humiliation,

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it has always come down to one thing:

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fight.

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Old Madam,

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Qingyuan...

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Qingyuan,

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get up.

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Now,

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I'm asking you—

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will you go to tomorrow's

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southern opera or not?

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I'll go.

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♪ In these troubled times, men are
more treacherous than ghosts ♪

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♪ None can compare to
your own flesh and blood ♪

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♪ It's hard to tell
what's false and what's true ♪

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♪ Evil shall meet its due ♪

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♪ The vile dog is finally dead ♪

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♪ Let me come closer and take a look ♪

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My Lady, you're truly amazing.

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When Madam Hu discovered the invitation,

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I thought we wouldn't be able to come.

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I never expected

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that you could get Old Madam to personally

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approve our coming to watch the opera.

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Actually, Grandmother

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doesn't want me
to marry Young Master Li either.

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It's just that right now,

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with Concubine Mei
confined to Liuhua Courtyard,

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there's no one managing household affairs,

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and for the moment, Grandmother can't
decide who should fill the position.

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If Second Sister marries well,

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and I am won over by First Madam,

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then Grandmother will have

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no pawns left to play.

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Chunzhi,

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let's just enjoy the opera.

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Stop looking at her.

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That little vixen

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was given to Lord Yan long ago.

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♪ Today, Yang kills the dog ♪

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Second Sister,

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don't speak of her like that.

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♪ Today, to save my husband
from the prison ♪

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Chunzhi,

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let's focus on the opera.

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Look.

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Those two children make such a fine pair.

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♪ Madam ♪

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♪ Such a huge, vicious dog ♪

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Alright, alright.

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♪ How did you manage to kill it? ♪

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Let's enjoy the opera.

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♪ Wu Zhong ♪

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♪ Let me tell you the whole story ♪

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Madam Hu is really underhanded.

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The Heir clearly invited us,

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yet she deliberately
seated him beside Second Lady

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and put us in the back row.

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It doesn't matter.

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Just what I wanted.

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She's saved me quite a bit of trouble.

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♪ Wu Zhong ♪

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♪ Let me tell you the whole story ♪

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-Bravo!
-Bravo!

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That was really good.

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Bravo!

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I'm Qingyuan, the fourth daughter
of Army Inspector Xie of Hengtang.

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I pay my respects to Your Lordship.

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You saw everything on the table, right?

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I unintentionally offended
Your Lordship that day,

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so I made these herbal snacks
especially for Your Lordship as an apology.

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I wonder

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how Your Lordship finds the taste.

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Since they're herbal snacks,

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tell me,

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what formula did you use?

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I decocted astragalus,

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codonopsis,

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pinellia,

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and earthworm

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into a broth,
then mixed it into the filling.

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Based on the formula
of Blood-Stasis-Expelling Decoction,

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this is meant to treat Your Lordship's

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lung abscess and heart impediment,

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which arise from phlegm and blood stasis

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obstructing the collaterals,
stagnant lung qi,

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and the resulting failure
of the five organs.

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Not even my own son knows

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that I suffer from a lung abscess
and heart impediment.

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Who

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told you

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about my illness?

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That day, outside the shop,

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I noticed
Your Lordship's voice was hoarse,

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and your fingers were clubbed.

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And it was already late spring,

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yet Your Lordship
was still sensitive to the cold

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and needed a hand warmer.

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These are symptoms of

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extreme internal cold and organ failure.

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If my guess is right,

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Your Lordship didn't
withdraw from the world

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because of an eccentric, reclusive nature,
as outsiders claim.

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Rather, 5 years ago, Your Lordship

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discovered that your old ailments

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had built up into a serious illness,

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and that is what suddenly changed you.

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How dare you!

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And from that alone,

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you presume to conclude
that I have a terminal illness?

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Not only that.

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To gain an audience with Your Lordship,

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I looked into your whole life.

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I know you went to the battlefield
at the age of 14,

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suffering 6 stab wounds
while capturing northern invaders.

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Despite your grievous wounds,

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you killed hundreds of enemies

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and held the banner high

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as you waited alone for reinforcements.

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You were left with injuries
that have never truly healed.

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I know that when you sought to
have the Prince of Han named Crown Prince,

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you knelt through the night in the snow,

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enduring the bone-chilling cold,

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and contracted a lung ailment.

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I also know that,
to protect the people here,

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you've retained command of the troops
while relinquishing political power,

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staying shut in for years,

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refusing to see outsiders.

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Who sent you?

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Chunzhi,

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look.

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He can even do somersaults.

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Oh my!

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Even if you don't say it,

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I know.

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It's

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Yan Rui.

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Since Your Lordship
has already guessed it,

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I won't hide it any longer.

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You're right.

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It was Lord Yan who instructed me that,

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no matter what,

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I had to find a way
to meet Your Lordship in person.

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Lord Yan sent me

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to ask you for troops.

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All this time, I thought

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you'd calculated every move...

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in order to

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marry my son.

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But I never expected...

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you'd become a mouthpiece

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for a corrupt official

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who extorts provisions

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and plunders the people's wealth

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everywhere he goes.

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Your Lordship,

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I believe

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Lord Yan

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isn't the corrupt official
everyone takes him for.

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His original aim

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is no different from

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what you've always stood by,

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though your paths are different.

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You're done?

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Bravo!

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Quite a fine performance, isn't it?

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First time I've seen
such a fine performance.

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Bravo!

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I am Yan Rui.

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Greetings, Your Lordship.

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You've shown yourself after all.

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I knew all along
you were here eavesdropping.

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One test,

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and you revealed yourself.

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Your Lordship has been avoiding me,

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so I had no choice but to resort to this.

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Lord Yan, you

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look like an old friend of mine.

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Very much alike.

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Is that so?

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I wonder which old acquaintance

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could've left such a deep impression
on Your Lordship.

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Hengtang has

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long been rotten to the core.

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No one can save it.

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I concealed my illness

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to ensure stability
in Hengtang's military command

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and prevent the region
from descending into chaos.

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In that way, I suppose I've done

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the people of Hengtang one good deed—

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at least they won't be left with nothing.

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Lord Yan,

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what exactly is your purpose in coming

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to borrow troops this time?

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I came to Hengtang

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for only 3 things:

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disaster relief,

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bandit suppression,

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and rooting out corruption.

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That's precisely why I have

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come to ask Your Lordship for troops.

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Why should I trust you?

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You have endured your illness
and forced yourself to hold on for years,

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refusing to see outsiders,

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all to preserve peace throughout Hengtang.

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Why not take this opportunity
to completely

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uproot
the Jiangnan Transport Commissioner,

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the scourge,

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once and for all?

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You make it sound so easy.

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Whether this succeeds or not,

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you could simply dust off your robes

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and return to the capital to report back.

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But what about me?

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I'd have to remain here,

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clean up your mess,

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and pick up the pieces.

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You extort grain, hoard wealth,

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and prey upon the people.

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Who in Hengtang doesn't curse you

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as a corrupt official and a villain?

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If I kill you here...

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I'll face no consequences.

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The people will even cheer.

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So why wouldn't I?

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This man

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is truly remarkable.

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His Lordship really does have a good eye.

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Right?

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He performs well, doesn't he?

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Chunzhi,

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♪ Wu Zhong, come here ♪

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look.

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Look, someone else is coming.

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♪ Come on ♪

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♪ Stop pulling ♪

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♪ I'm dead ♪

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Your Lordship,

242
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I know

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you never intended to
kill Qingyuan just now.

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It was merely to draw me out.

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Now I'm right here.

246
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Your Lordship may do with me
as you please.

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00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:01,240
But even if Your Lordship kills
one corrupt official like me,

248
00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,930
can you kill
every corrupt official in Hengtang?

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Your Lordship,

250
00:14:17,910 --> 00:14:19,960
since Lord Yan has come to
borrow troops from you,

251
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he must already have a plan.

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You two seek the same goal.

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One person alone
may not be able to accomplish it.

254
00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,520
But if the two of you join forces,

255
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perhaps victory will be within reach.

256
00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:32,300
Your Lordship,

257
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it all depends on

258
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whether you're willing to take the gamble.

259
00:14:52,390 --> 00:14:53,990
Is everything you said true?

260
00:14:54,670 --> 00:14:55,720
Every word of it.

261
00:14:56,030 --> 00:14:57,320
That vicious girl

262
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left our whole family homeless
and without a livelihood.

263
00:15:02,030 --> 00:15:02,870
Second Madam,

264
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please look at the contents
of this confession letter carefully.

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That's more than enough to finish her off.

266
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I know.

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Master San,

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it's been a long time.

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Lord Wei,

270
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got any good business

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for us again?

272
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I heard that you previously

273
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looted some government grain

274
00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:45,910
but have been unable to
find a way to sell it.

275
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Now there's a golden opportunity.

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On the eighth of next month,

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the imperial court
will be collecting grain.

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Master San, you have the grain,

279
00:15:53,750 --> 00:15:55,320
and Lord Xie and I

280
00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,920
have official channels for selling it.

281
00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,750
When the time comes,
you'll only need a few of your men

282
00:16:00,750 --> 00:16:02,210
to pose as grain merchants

283
00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:03,630
and sell the grain separately.

284
00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:05,670
Once the deal is done
and the money is split,

285
00:16:05,670 --> 00:16:07,450
we'll have more wealth

286
00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,540
than we could spend in this lifetime.

287
00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:12,400
However, Master San,

288
00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,210
there's one more small matter.

289
00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:15,560
Once the deal is done,

290
00:16:16,030 --> 00:16:18,670
you'll need to help me kill someone.

291
00:16:20,870 --> 00:16:22,600
That's just routine business.

292
00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:24,300
What's so hard about that?

293
00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:26,630
Lord Xie,

294
00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:28,390
what do you say?

295
00:16:30,270 --> 00:16:31,150
Lord Wei,

296
00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,020
secrecy is the key to success.

297
00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,320
You've gathered
this whole pack of vicious criminals.

298
00:16:38,630 --> 00:16:39,870
Once things spiral out of control,

299
00:16:39,870 --> 00:16:41,320
we'll all be doomed.

300
00:16:42,030 --> 00:16:44,750
I'm sorry, but

301
00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:46,480
I cannot participate in this.

302
00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:47,320
Same old rule—

303
00:16:47,550 --> 00:16:49,600
I saw nothing

304
00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:51,440
and know nothing.

305
00:16:51,550 --> 00:16:53,320
You and I have already entered this game—

306
00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,510
how can you back out now?

307
00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:56,790
Don't forget

308
00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:58,480
whose side you're on.

309
00:17:13,270 --> 00:17:13,930
Master San,

310
00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:16,920
this is Lord Xie.

311
00:17:26,550 --> 00:17:28,410
The road is slippery. Be careful.

312
00:17:29,790 --> 00:17:30,510
Old Madam,

313
00:17:31,070 --> 00:17:33,750
I really wasn't trying to
find fault with Qingyuan.

314
00:17:33,750 --> 00:17:35,680
It's just that Chuntai
went out on errands today

315
00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,790
and happened to run into the shopkeeper.

316
00:17:37,790 --> 00:17:40,400
That's how I found out about
such a serious matter.

317
00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:40,860
Well...

318
00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,480
I didn't dare jump to conclusions,

319
00:17:44,030 --> 00:17:45,430
so I troubled you to come.

320
00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:47,240
You must see the witnesses and evidence

321
00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:48,640
with your own eyes

322
00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,160
to determine
if this is all a misunderstanding.

323
00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,410
Enough with your attempts to sway me.

324
00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:55,790
What I want to see is the evidence!

325
00:18:02,510 --> 00:18:03,240
Old Madam.

326
00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:04,160
Let me go!

327
00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:08,160
Speak.

328
00:18:11,550 --> 00:18:13,640
For these past 10-odd years, Fourth Lady

329
00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,750
has been running cons with this woman,
cheating and fleecing people

330
00:18:16,750 --> 00:18:18,080
like shameless rogues.

331
00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:20,120
Don't talk nonsense!

332
00:18:20,270 --> 00:18:22,240
They even committed crimes in Liuzhou

333
00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:23,400
and have a criminal record.

334
00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:24,200
No!

335
00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:25,680
Don't talk nonsense!

336
00:18:26,590 --> 00:18:28,790
They also have an accomplice.

337
00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:30,560
His identity is unknown.

338
00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:32,840
All we know is that he's a man.

339
00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:35,960
Old Madam,

340
00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,200
when the shopkeeper
first told me all this,

341
00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,030
I was skeptical too.

342
00:18:41,210 --> 00:18:43,240
But when I saw Miss Dong...

343
00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:46,270
Do you still remember her?

344
00:18:47,550 --> 00:18:49,440
The horses that went missing

345
00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:51,550
the day our residence caught fire—

346
00:18:51,550 --> 00:18:53,920
we bought them all from her.

347
00:19:01,310 --> 00:19:02,270
Your Yunduo

348
00:19:02,910 --> 00:19:04,710
was picked out by the Xie family.

349
00:19:05,110 --> 00:19:06,280
This afternoon,

350
00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,890
it was taken into the Xie Residence

351
00:19:09,110 --> 00:19:10,640
with several other horses.

352
00:19:17,510 --> 00:19:20,830
And now, Qingyuan has hired
this very woman

353
00:19:20,830 --> 00:19:23,070
as the new shopkeeper of her business.

354
00:19:24,550 --> 00:19:25,640
Old Madam,

355
00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:26,480
well...

356
00:19:27,790 --> 00:19:28,240
I...

357
00:19:28,510 --> 00:19:28,960
Well,

358
00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,360
I really can't say for certain anymore.

359
00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:32,520
I don't know

360
00:19:33,030 --> 00:19:35,630
if Qingyuan planted spies long ago

361
00:19:35,790 --> 00:19:37,110
in our household

362
00:19:37,550 --> 00:19:38,920
or if there are

363
00:19:39,030 --> 00:19:40,400
really

364
00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:42,480
such coincidences in the world.

365
00:19:48,750 --> 00:19:49,640
Old Madam,

366
00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:50,440
Old Madam,

367
00:19:50,550 --> 00:19:52,270
you must give me justice!

368
00:19:52,310 --> 00:19:54,270
Every word I've said is true!

369
00:19:55,590 --> 00:19:56,590
This confession letter

370
00:19:56,590 --> 00:19:57,520
is the evidence.

371
00:20:04,900 --> 00:20:07,080
[Confession Letter—Maping County, Liuzhou]

372
00:20:09,030 --> 00:20:09,590
That day,

373
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,180
I found out

374
00:20:12,310 --> 00:20:15,460
that Fourth Lady was a fraud...

375
00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:17,000
What did you say?

376
00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:17,680
And

377
00:20:18,030 --> 00:20:20,110
she wasn't of
the Xie family bloodline at all.

378
00:20:20,110 --> 00:20:22,230
[Jin Yunya] [Dong Fangchun]

379
00:20:20,310 --> 00:20:22,110
Then she drove me out of the shop!

380
00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:22,920
Old Madam,

381
00:20:23,110 --> 00:20:24,640
you must give me justice!

382
00:20:25,590 --> 00:20:27,250
Don't listen to his nonsense!

383
00:20:27,550 --> 00:20:28,550
Old Madam,

384
00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,060
I know this may be unpleasant to hear,

385
00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:32,890
but I said it long ago.

386
00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:34,510
Qingyuan

387
00:20:34,950 --> 00:20:36,690
has always been a Chen.

388
00:20:37,030 --> 00:20:38,830
She's never truly been one of us.

389
00:20:39,510 --> 00:20:40,760
Now it seems

390
00:20:40,830 --> 00:20:43,480
she's a fraud through and through.

391
00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,280
She doesn't even count as a real member
of the decent Chen family.

392
00:20:50,270 --> 00:20:51,480
Well.

393
00:20:53,030 --> 00:20:54,240
Very well.

394
00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,680
What a scheming Fourth Lady!

395
00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:08,510
My Lady,

396
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,560
everyone is waiting.

397
00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,420
From the day I set foot in this household,

398
00:21:18,030 --> 00:21:19,160
I knew

399
00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:21,640
this day would come.

400
00:21:23,750 --> 00:21:25,210
I just didn't expect it...

401
00:21:27,830 --> 00:21:28,960
to come so soon.

402
00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,110
We can't blame anyone else for this.

403
00:21:32,270 --> 00:21:33,440
Who would've thought

404
00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,500
that the Fourth Lady in our household

405
00:21:35,550 --> 00:21:37,830
was an impostor trying to swindle money

406
00:21:37,830 --> 00:21:38,960
from our family?

407
00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,310
It's just a pity that our real child

408
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,830
died in a fire many years ago.

409
00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:48,790
Master,

410
00:21:49,590 --> 00:21:52,480
if Qingyuan is indeed an impostor,

411
00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:54,920
what should we do with her?

412
00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:56,790
What is there to decide?

413
00:21:56,790 --> 00:21:58,550
Drive the fraud out, of course.

414
00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:02,570
We'll do as Master says.

415
00:22:05,310 --> 00:22:06,920
Fourth Lady has arrived!

416
00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:23,640
Father,

417
00:22:24,270 --> 00:22:25,070
Grandmother,

418
00:22:25,510 --> 00:22:27,960
may I ask why you summoned me today?

419
00:22:28,350 --> 00:22:29,240
Qingyuan,

420
00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:31,720
do you know her?

421
00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,000
Fangchun?

422
00:22:39,750 --> 00:22:40,550
Grandmother,

423
00:22:40,790 --> 00:22:43,590
why have you had
my dear friend tied up here?

424
00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:45,680
Show it to her.

425
00:22:52,260 --> 00:22:53,530
[Confession Letter—Maping County, Liuzhou]

426
00:22:52,310 --> 00:22:55,480
Now, someone has just come forward
testifying against you,

427
00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:57,080
saying that you and Miss Dong

428
00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:00,240
swindled and cheated people together
in Liuzhou as children,

429
00:22:59,530 --> 00:23:01,820
[Confession Letter—Maping County, Liuzhou]

430
00:23:00,830 --> 00:23:05,200
and that after growing up,
you schemed your way into our household.

431
00:23:05,550 --> 00:23:06,640
Is that true?

432
00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:12,480
Grandmother,

433
00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:13,310
Father,

434
00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,590
I grew up with Fangchun.

435
00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:19,400
But I don't understand

436
00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,170
what's wrong with that.

437
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:24,750
I lost my mother when I was very young,

438
00:23:24,750 --> 00:23:25,920
and I had no home.

439
00:23:26,550 --> 00:23:28,440
If Fangchun hadn't helped me,

440
00:23:28,750 --> 00:23:30,220
I might have died long ago.

441
00:23:32,070 --> 00:23:33,650
That wasn't her fault.

442
00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:35,960
If you must blame someone, blame me.

443
00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,970
Blame me for having no one
willing to take me in

444
00:23:39,310 --> 00:23:41,710
when I was wandering
the streets back then.

445
00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:48,070
I was on my own from a young age.

446
00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:51,920
If you hadn't needed me
as a charm against misfortune,

447
00:23:52,070 --> 00:23:54,750
you would never have brought me back
to the family.

448
00:23:54,750 --> 00:23:57,610
What scheme
could there possibly have been in that?

449
00:24:05,510 --> 00:24:06,590
As a child,

450
00:24:07,590 --> 00:24:09,520
all I ever wanted was to have a home.

451
00:24:10,310 --> 00:24:12,000
But I never imagined

452
00:24:12,110 --> 00:24:14,000
that after finally returning home,

453
00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:14,860
what awaited me

454
00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:17,720
would be nothing but suspicion.

455
00:24:22,270 --> 00:24:24,550
If the real Qingyuan
had spent her life wandering

456
00:24:24,550 --> 00:24:26,010
without anyone to rely on,

457
00:24:26,030 --> 00:24:28,960
she could only blame
her mother for committing murder.

458
00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:30,200
She brought it upon herself.

459
00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:31,070
What? Are you going to

460
00:24:31,070 --> 00:24:33,000
blame Old Madam for kindly sparing

461
00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:34,000
her life back then

462
00:24:34,270 --> 00:24:36,330
and driving her out of the residence?

463
00:24:37,070 --> 00:24:38,680
You're here acting all pitiful,

464
00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:41,440
but you don't seem to realize
we already know the truth—

465
00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,350
the real Qingyuan died
in a fire years ago.

466
00:24:46,510 --> 00:24:47,750
You're just an impostor!

467
00:24:47,750 --> 00:24:49,810
Second Madam, why are you framing me?

468
00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:57,640
Father...

469
00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:01,830
They deny who I am,

470
00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:04,270
and you do too?

471
00:25:05,350 --> 00:25:06,200
Child,

472
00:25:07,550 --> 00:25:09,270
I don't want to believe it,

473
00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:11,680
but this is suspicious.

474
00:25:12,110 --> 00:25:15,900
Someone's testified
that you're not my biological daughter.

475
00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:20,920
You must explain this clearly.

476
00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:33,880
Father...

477
00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,130
Father, you don't remember me either.

478
00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:39,200
Nine years ago,

479
00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,270
on a snowy night, I encountered you.

480
00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:45,440
That was the only time I'd ever

481
00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:48,920
spent with you

482
00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:51,750
since I was a child.

483
00:25:55,750 --> 00:25:57,030
Come on, catch me!

484
00:25:57,030 --> 00:25:57,880
Little Loser,

485
00:25:58,030 --> 00:25:59,280
wait for me!

486
00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:02,110
Come on, catch me!

487
00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:03,570
Little Loser, you...

488
00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:07,430
Whose child are you?

489
00:26:11,070 --> 00:26:12,180
Sir,

490
00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:13,680
I'm sorry.

491
00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:26,880
Little Monkey,

492
00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:28,000
why are you running so slowly?

493
00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:28,680
Come catch me!

494
00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:29,830
Little Loser!

495
00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:31,520
Come catch me!

496
00:26:32,070 --> 00:26:33,690
Stop right there!

497
00:26:34,550 --> 00:26:35,350
Stop!

498
00:26:44,110 --> 00:26:44,830
Father,

499
00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:46,920
don't you remember?

500
00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:58,310
There are countless things from the past.

501
00:27:04,350 --> 00:27:08,590
I really can't remember everything.

502
00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:18,060
Jin Chunqing died in the fire back then.

503
00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,760
A fire that even an adult couldn't escape—

504
00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,300
how could you, a child,

505
00:27:22,510 --> 00:27:23,780
have escaped it?

506
00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,010
I really don't remember how I escaped!

507
00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:27,850
I was so little back then.

508
00:27:28,110 --> 00:27:29,840
How could I possibly remember?

509
00:27:31,270 --> 00:27:33,000
Fourth Madam died in that fire.

510
00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,210
Why force Fourth Sister
to dredge up the past?

511
00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:37,640
Mother,

512
00:27:38,350 --> 00:27:40,750
perhaps there's
a misunderstanding in all this.

513
00:27:40,750 --> 00:27:41,720
Stay out of it.

514
00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:49,960
Second Madam,

515
00:27:51,790 --> 00:27:53,310
I know why you've staged

516
00:27:53,340 --> 00:27:54,940
this whole spectacle today.

517
00:27:57,030 --> 00:27:58,360
Because you're scared.

518
00:28:01,270 --> 00:28:03,680
You're afraid I'll expose

519
00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,880
what you've concealed all these years.

520
00:28:08,070 --> 00:28:09,000
But today,

521
00:28:10,070 --> 00:28:12,110
it is you who have forced me to reveal it

522
00:28:12,110 --> 00:28:13,310
in front of everyone.

523
00:28:15,790 --> 00:28:16,600
Father,

524
00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:17,680
Grandmother,

525
00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,310
my mother didn't kill anyone back then.

526
00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:25,100
The one who used euphorbia

527
00:28:25,790 --> 00:28:28,060
to poison Concubine Xia was her!

528
00:28:34,510 --> 00:28:36,030
I didn't harm Concubine Xia.

529
00:28:36,030 --> 00:28:37,640
Clean up your own mess

530
00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:39,160
before you point the finger at me.

531
00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:41,030
Everything Qingyuan has said

532
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:44,580
is absolutely true.

533
00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:47,640
Since when do you get a say here?

534
00:28:49,510 --> 00:28:51,700
It's true, I don't get a say,

535
00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:53,200
but I can't bear to watch

536
00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:56,060
Qingyuan suffer wrongful accusations
any longer!

537
00:28:57,070 --> 00:28:57,880
Today, I'll

538
00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,330
speak for what is right.

539
00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:04,160
Jin Chunqing

540
00:29:05,830 --> 00:29:07,070
didn't kill her!

541
00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:12,810
What do you mean?

542
00:29:13,310 --> 00:29:14,440
Tell us everything.

543
00:29:16,310 --> 00:29:17,000
Mother,

544
00:29:18,510 --> 00:29:19,270
Master,

545
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:22,790
I've failed the family.

546
00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:25,970
Back then, it was Concubine Mei

547
00:29:26,030 --> 00:29:27,750
who asked me for euphorbia.

548
00:29:52,270 --> 00:29:54,030
She must've given it to Cui'er.

549
00:29:55,270 --> 00:29:56,110
Cui'er.

550
00:29:58,310 --> 00:29:59,000
Cui'er!

551
00:30:01,790 --> 00:30:02,440
Tell me,

552
00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:04,700
how did Concubine Xia die?

553
00:30:08,590 --> 00:30:09,310
Speak!

554
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:12,160
It was...

555
00:30:14,310 --> 00:30:17,440
It was Fourth Madam
who gave me a bowl of pregnancy tonic.

556
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,550
I didn't know
it was meant to harm someone.

557
00:30:21,830 --> 00:30:23,310
I never imagined

558
00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,790
Concubine Xia
would die so suddenly from it.

559
00:30:29,110 --> 00:30:31,510
And Chunqing was falsely accused of murder

560
00:30:31,510 --> 00:30:33,310
and driven out of the household.

561
00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:36,160
I was too weak.

562
00:30:36,350 --> 00:30:39,640
I never dared tell anyone the truth.

563
00:30:40,070 --> 00:30:41,270
All these years,

564
00:30:41,750 --> 00:30:43,810
I've lived with a guilty conscience,

565
00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:46,720
tormented by it day and night.

566
00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:48,960
But thankfully...

567
00:30:49,270 --> 00:30:50,930
Thankfully, Heaven sees all.

568
00:30:51,350 --> 00:30:53,310
Qingyuan's return to the household

569
00:30:53,310 --> 00:30:55,770
finally gave me the chance
to tell the truth.

570
00:30:58,830 --> 00:30:59,590
Father,

571
00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:01,480
Grandmother,

572
00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:03,310
a few days ago,

573
00:31:03,590 --> 00:31:05,310
Third Madam and I
had a small get-together.

574
00:31:05,310 --> 00:31:06,640
She drank too much

575
00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,720
and let the truth about
what happened back then slip out.

576
00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:10,740
Somehow,

577
00:31:11,310 --> 00:31:13,110
it reached Second Madam's ears.

578
00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:14,680
Second Madam

579
00:31:15,070 --> 00:31:17,270
then came up with this charade today.

580
00:31:18,750 --> 00:31:20,750
She wants me to end up like my mother—

581
00:31:20,790 --> 00:31:22,320
driven out of the household

582
00:31:22,550 --> 00:31:24,240
and bearing a bad name
for the rest of my life,

583
00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:25,900
with nowhere to seek justice!

584
00:31:30,270 --> 00:31:32,510
Now that the truth
has finally come to light,

585
00:31:32,510 --> 00:31:33,130
Father,

586
00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:36,240
Grandmother,

587
00:31:38,110 --> 00:31:40,110
you must seek justice for my mother.

588
00:31:40,350 --> 00:31:41,000
Without any proof,

589
00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,550
what justice are you talking about?

590
00:31:42,550 --> 00:31:43,400
I didn't harm Fourth Madam

591
00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:44,550
and Fifth Madam.

592
00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:47,880
W-Why

593
00:31:48,510 --> 00:31:50,160
are you all staring at me?

594
00:31:51,350 --> 00:31:53,610
W-Why don't you say something about her?

595
00:31:57,310 --> 00:31:59,310
A-Are you out of your mind?

596
00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:01,840
Why drag me into your mess?

597
00:32:01,860 --> 00:32:03,930
You told me about the euphorbia!

598
00:32:06,750 --> 00:32:08,110
What are you talking about?

599
00:32:08,110 --> 00:32:09,270
Enough, all of you!

600
00:32:11,550 --> 00:32:13,730
What a cursed family.

601
00:32:15,550 --> 00:32:16,420
Second Madam,

602
00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:19,810
you claim I'm not Father's daughter.

603
00:32:20,270 --> 00:32:21,640
Do you have any proof?

604
00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:25,790
If those stories you made up

605
00:32:25,790 --> 00:32:26,850
count as evidence,

606
00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,110
then what Third Madam just testified

607
00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:33,270
is enough to send you to prison

608
00:32:33,270 --> 00:32:35,000
and make you pay with your life!

609
00:32:35,030 --> 00:32:35,750
If you're so sure of yourself,

610
00:32:35,750 --> 00:32:36,950
let's see your proof!

611
00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:41,270
This Xie Residence is

612
00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:43,030
so lively again today.

613
00:32:48,030 --> 00:32:48,890
You two, get up.

614
00:32:52,750 --> 00:32:55,310
I've failed in managing my family.

615
00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,200
Servants and womenfolk are making a scene,

616
00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,200
bringing shame upon the household,

617
00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,880
and there isn't a shred of propriety left.

618
00:33:04,270 --> 00:33:05,550
Lord Yan, no wonder

619
00:33:05,550 --> 00:33:08,510
you can come and go
in my residence freely,

620
00:33:08,510 --> 00:33:10,970
as if walking through unguarded territory.

621
00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:13,000
You put it too strongly, Lord Xie.

622
00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:14,720
We both serve the Emperor.

623
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,530
Aren't we practically family
in that regard?

624
00:33:20,510 --> 00:33:22,400
On this fine day,

625
00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:24,440
I've prepared

626
00:33:24,550 --> 00:33:26,280
a great gift for everyone here.

627
00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:28,880
What kind of gift?

628
00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:30,550
Men,

629
00:33:31,180 --> 00:33:32,040
bring the gift!

630
00:33:36,550 --> 00:33:39,310
Last night, I caught a thief

631
00:33:39,310 --> 00:33:41,040
who works for your household.

632
00:33:41,350 --> 00:33:42,200
Second Madam, save me.

633
00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:43,000
Chuntai?

634
00:33:43,830 --> 00:33:45,160
-You...
-Second Madam.

635
00:33:45,310 --> 00:33:46,590
From now on,

636
00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:48,320
you'd better be careful.

637
00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:50,790
You should know,
"The hardest thief to guard against

638
00:33:50,790 --> 00:33:52,520
is the one under your own roof."

639
00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:54,720
You little thing,

640
00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:55,590
haven't I treated you well enough?

641
00:33:55,590 --> 00:33:56,640
Yet you stole money?

642
00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:57,790
I really didn't steal money.

643
00:33:57,790 --> 00:34:00,320
I was just delivering money
for Second Madam.

644
00:34:02,750 --> 00:34:04,550
D-Delivering what money?

645
00:34:05,070 --> 00:34:07,000
I never asked you to deliver money!

646
00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:09,850
Second Young Master, your letter.

647
00:34:10,030 --> 00:34:11,110
Read it out loud.

648
00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:17,360
"Respectfully to Madam,

649
00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:18,670
at 7:45 tonight.

650
00:34:18,730 --> 00:34:19,920
Do you still remember

651
00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:21,400
your old acquaintance, Cui'er?

652
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,760
Please prepare 50 taels of silver
by tomorrow night.

653
00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,420
Otherwise, we all go down together."

654
00:34:31,070 --> 00:34:32,440
Who is Cui'er?

655
00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:34,280
What right does she have to demand

656
00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:35,550
50 taels of silver from my mother
by tomorrow night?

657
00:34:35,550 --> 00:34:37,440
"Otherwise, we all go down together"?

658
00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:38,969
She's threatening Mother!

659
00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:40,880
Second Young Master, please calm down.

660
00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:42,540
I'll go find Second Madam now.

661
00:35:02,190 --> 00:35:03,320
Thank you, Lord Yan,

662
00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:05,360
for bringing the evidence I wanted.

663
00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:25,200
Are you okay?

664
00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:27,010
I'm fine.

665
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:31,550
Father, Grandmother,

666
00:35:32,510 --> 00:35:34,710
my dear friend can leave now, can't she?

667
00:35:38,230 --> 00:35:38,920
Go.

668
00:35:40,550 --> 00:35:41,080
Quickly.

669
00:36:03,190 --> 00:36:04,110
Let go of me!

670
00:36:05,510 --> 00:36:06,300
Let go of me!

671
00:36:06,590 --> 00:36:07,510
Let me go!

672
00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:08,880
Let go of me!

673
00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,800
-Fourth Lady Xie, are you satisfied?
-Let go of me!

674
00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:14,060
-Thank you, Lord Yan.
-Let go!

675
00:36:17,070 --> 00:36:18,030
Lord Yan.

676
00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:23,710
I thank you for bringing

677
00:36:24,110 --> 00:36:26,550
this thieving maidservant

678
00:36:27,230 --> 00:36:28,560
to our household today.

679
00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:31,050
My Lord, if you have no other business,

680
00:36:31,150 --> 00:36:34,630
we shouldn't keep you
from your official duties.

681
00:36:35,320 --> 00:36:36,150
Not at all.

682
00:36:36,710 --> 00:36:38,110
With such a brilliant show,

683
00:36:38,110 --> 00:36:40,630
how could I possibly leave
before seeing the ending?

684
00:36:40,630 --> 00:36:42,830
So, Old Madam, please don't rush me off.

685
00:36:45,710 --> 00:36:47,760
Fourth Lady Xie, just now, you said

686
00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:49,930
this woman is your witness.

687
00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:53,670
Doesn't that mean
you're in the know as well?

688
00:36:57,280 --> 00:36:58,610
Lord Yan, you're right.

689
00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:01,510
I wrote the letter Chuntai received.

690
00:37:02,190 --> 00:37:03,000
I used the identity of Cui'er,

691
00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,110
the medicine servant
who once attended my mother,

692
00:37:05,110 --> 00:37:07,320
to write the blackmail letter
to Second Madam.

693
00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:08,030
Cui'er

694
00:37:08,510 --> 00:37:09,760
was the only witness
who testified against my mother

695
00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:10,960
for murder back then.

696
00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:13,000
I wrote that letter

697
00:37:13,230 --> 00:37:14,800
not for money,

698
00:37:15,190 --> 00:37:17,110
but to set a trap

699
00:37:17,510 --> 00:37:20,480
and lure out the real murderer.

700
00:37:23,670 --> 00:37:25,190
Mei Yinghua,

701
00:37:25,710 --> 00:37:27,070
how dare you!

702
00:37:31,070 --> 00:37:32,360
You ungrateful wretch,

703
00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:33,620
who gave you the nerve?

704
00:37:34,070 --> 00:37:35,800
You committed such a grave offense
out of your own selfishness,

705
00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:37,640
and now you drag me into it?

706
00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:40,780
I was wrong, Second Madam.

707
00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:41,710
Chuntai,

708
00:37:42,150 --> 00:37:43,070
don't be afraid.

709
00:37:43,070 --> 00:37:45,000
Who exactly ordered you to do that?

710
00:37:45,070 --> 00:37:46,070
Tell us the truth.

711
00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:51,630
Whatever wrongdoing Chuntai committed,

712
00:37:51,630 --> 00:37:53,670
you may judge and punish her
as you see fit—

713
00:37:53,670 --> 00:37:55,230
why pin it on me?

714
00:37:56,280 --> 00:37:57,320
Besides,

715
00:37:57,550 --> 00:37:59,090
we still haven't found out

716
00:37:59,190 --> 00:38:00,760
whether the "Qingyuan" here
is real or an impostor!

717
00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:01,360
Enough!

718
00:38:03,150 --> 00:38:04,530
With Lord Yan here,

719
00:38:05,230 --> 00:38:07,090
you still dare act so insolently?

720
00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:15,630
Fine then.

721
00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:18,320
I'll decide this myself.

722
00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:19,590
Donglin.

723
00:38:22,190 --> 00:38:24,370
Drag this wretched maid away

724
00:38:24,590 --> 00:38:26,150
and punish her according to family rules!

725
00:38:26,150 --> 00:38:27,010
Yes, Old Madam.

726
00:38:27,510 --> 00:38:28,000
No...

727
00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:29,670
Second Madam, save me.

728
00:38:29,670 --> 00:38:30,590
I didn't steal money.

729
00:38:30,590 --> 00:38:32,390
Second Madam, save me.

730
00:38:32,590 --> 00:38:34,840
Second Madam, please save me!

731
00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:35,880
Second Madam!

732
00:38:43,110 --> 00:38:43,760
Is that it?

733
00:38:45,110 --> 00:38:47,310
Your Xie family is really interesting.

734
00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,260
I thought it'd be just
a petty household case today.

735
00:38:50,630 --> 00:38:52,550
I didn't expect it to turn into

736
00:38:52,630 --> 00:38:54,760
a serious case involving human lives.

737
00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:56,550
What should we do now,

738
00:38:56,550 --> 00:38:57,480
Lord Xie?

739
00:39:02,030 --> 00:39:03,760
It's not that complicated.

740
00:39:04,710 --> 00:39:06,570
Lord Yan, you've misunderstood.

741
00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:10,720
These are merely trivial matters
between the women in my household.

742
00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:12,800
When my wife, concubines, and daughters

743
00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:14,400
get into it with one another,

744
00:39:14,510 --> 00:39:16,640
it's always a matter of life and death.

745
00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:21,070
As they say, even immortals
can't settle family disputes.

746
00:39:23,110 --> 00:39:25,510
Fourth Madam's case back then

747
00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:28,020
was already settled beyond dispute.

748
00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:30,320
Now, the matter of a few servant girls

749
00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:32,450
is simply a trivial household matter.

750
00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:35,110
I can handle it myself perfectly well.

751
00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:37,610
You needn't concern yourself with it.

752
00:39:57,630 --> 00:39:58,590
Come on, hurry!

753
00:39:58,920 --> 00:39:59,960
Tie them tighter!

754
00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:01,800
Secure them well!

755
00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:02,670
Be careful.

756
00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:04,600
And over here!

757
00:40:05,510 --> 00:40:06,510
Come on, let's go!

758
00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:10,550
Hurry up!

759
00:40:12,440 --> 00:40:13,280
Lord Wei,

760
00:40:14,030 --> 00:40:15,480
I've delivered all the grain to you.

761
00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:16,540
Where's the money?

762
00:40:16,760 --> 00:40:18,020
Don't be so impatient.

763
00:40:18,760 --> 00:40:21,490
The drum atop the city tower
has already sounded.

764
00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:22,960
The money

765
00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:24,600
will be here shortly.

766
00:40:27,190 --> 00:40:28,070
Master,

767
00:40:28,550 --> 00:40:30,150
the drum atop the city tower is sounding.

768
00:40:30,150 --> 00:40:32,150
Something major must be happening.

769
00:40:34,510 --> 00:40:35,480
Today is the eighth—

770
00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:37,510
the day the court collects the grain.

771
00:40:37,510 --> 00:40:38,230
Wrong.

772
00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:42,630
That's not the signal
for grain collection.

773
00:40:42,630 --> 00:40:44,190
It's an imperial order

774
00:40:44,190 --> 00:40:46,190
to open the granaries
and distribute grain.

775
00:40:46,190 --> 00:40:47,360
Distribute grain?

776
00:40:48,190 --> 00:40:50,450
Aren't you supposed to be collecting it?

777
00:40:51,630 --> 00:40:52,920
By order of Lord Yan,

778
00:40:52,940 --> 00:40:54,320
open the granaries and distribute grain!

779
00:40:54,320 --> 00:40:55,560
By order of Lord Yan,

780
00:40:55,630 --> 00:40:57,400
open the granaries and distribute grain!

781
00:40:57,400 --> 00:40:58,070
That's the sound of grain distribution.

782
00:40:58,070 --> 00:40:59,330
By order of Lord Yan...

783
00:40:59,350 --> 00:40:59,710
Really?

784
00:40:59,710 --> 00:41:01,280
Open the granaries and distribute grain!

785
00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:03,540
That's the sound of grain distribution!

786
00:41:04,670 --> 00:41:05,800
That's impossible!

787
00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:08,600
The government granaries are empty.

788
00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,800
Where would the grain even come from?

789
00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:12,000
The grain's arrived!

790
00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:14,000
It's really arrived! It's really here!

791
00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:15,000
Right over there!

792
00:41:15,480 --> 00:41:16,590
Hurry, hurry!

793
00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:29,890
What did you say?

794
00:41:31,590 --> 00:41:32,760
Distribute grain?

795
00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:34,760
Impossible!

796
00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:36,590
What grain could they possibly distribute?

797
00:41:36,590 --> 00:41:37,760
They don't have any grain.

798
00:41:37,760 --> 00:41:39,760
So what grain
could he possibly distribute?

799
00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:40,760
Whose grain is it?

800
00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:41,880
My Lord,

801
00:41:42,030 --> 00:41:45,690
the grain you collected has all been
distributed to the refugees.

802
00:41:50,170 --> 00:41:51,230
Where's the money?

803
00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:54,000
I'm asking you—where's the money?

804
00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:54,710
Money?

805
00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:56,010
There's no money.