Original subtitles

[Spring of The Blade]

[Episode 9]

Careful, Your Lordship—

one wrong move,

and the hand on the blade

could be the one that bleeds.

The more they resist...

the more I enjoy it.

Drink it.

Don't let it go to waste.

I was rash and rude just now.

I'd had quite a fright,

which is why I reacted that way.

Your Lordship is magnanimous.

Surely you won't hold it against me.

The way you put it, Fourth Lady Xie,

makes it seem as if I brought this upon myself.

Drink it.

I'm really worried

she might get caught up in this.

That poor child

has suffered from a young age

and has hardly known a day of happiness.

I'm just an old woman.

All I want is for her to be safe

and healthy.

Granny,

if you have anything

you want to give Yunya,

I'll take it to her for you.

Really?

Alright.

That's great.

Once spring comes,

the city is full of willow fluff.

She's been prone to coughing since she was little

and loves my salted kumquats the most.

And the yam cake.

I didn't put much honey in it.

I was afraid it'd be too sweet

and irritate her throat.

Ever since she was little,

that child has never known when to stop eating.

If you happen to see her,

please remind her a few more times for me.

Okay.

I'll keep that in mind.

Oh!

There are also several jars of fritillaria syrup.

I made it

by simmering the fritillaria

in melted snow.

Works wonders for coughs.

Are these too much for you to carry?

Not at all.

Whatever you'd like to send,

just give it to me.

I'll go fetch them from inside.

Oh, right, Granny.

I'll take all those loquat candies

you just mentioned.

Can you finish them all?

I'll share them with my men.

They've been dying to try your cooking for ages.

It's fine, Eldest Lady.

Don't worry.

Eldest Sister.

Fourth Sister.

Are you okay?

How are you?

Don't worry, Eldest Sister.

I'm not hurt at all.

The nanny who went with you

to make the bed earlier came back

and told us Lord Yan kept you there for a medicinal meal—

it frightened Eldest Lady and me half to death.

He didn't give you a hard time, did he?

He...

didn't.

That's good.

It's just that in the past, Lord Yan was only after money.

Why has he made such a huge commotion this time?

Everyone knows Zhengjun

can't even use an abacus properly.

How could he possibly have orchestrated the swap of the relief grain?

What Yan Rui wants

isn't the real culprit at all.

Your Lordship!

Your Lordship.

Xie Zhengjun has been taken into custody.

Good.

Send a letter to the patriarch of the Xie family.

Wouldn't want the long distance

to keep him from news of home.

Understood.

[Qinyue Corridor]

In this entire household,

Eldest Lady is the only one who genuinely cares about you.

She came rushing over to find me just now,

wanting to go with me to bring you back.

Qingyuan!

[Fuyu Pavilion]

Second Madam.

Qingyuan,

you're the most capable and resourceful person in this household.

Given your relationship with Lord Yan,

surely you can put in a word this time,

right?

You...

you must help your second brother.

Your second brother has never dared to

harm so much as an ant his whole life.

He could never have murdered someone to cover his tracks or swapped the grain.

He has truly been framed.

Second Madam,

it's not that I don't want to save him.

It's just that

this matter concerns the future of the entire family.

It can't be settled with just a few words.

Moreover, the Criminal Justice Office has

some pretty formidable methods.

They can make a man swear that his ancestors for 8 generations were all rebels.

With Second Brother's personality,

how many rounds of torture could he possibly endure?

They're...

They're that ruthless?

[Fuyu Pavilion]

Yeah.

Perhaps in a few days,

Second Brother will confess on his own

that he was the one who brought disaster upon the family.

By then, even if I

plead with every kind word I can think of,

how could that possibly resolve things?

Well...

Second Madam,

when my mother was alive, she often said

that those who frame someone

know better than anyone that the person is innocent.

Surely

you of all people understand that.

Unless Lord Yan is willing to back down of his own accord,

there's

no way out.

Qingyuan,

you...

You little brat,

you think I can't deal with you?

[Zhongwu Hall]

The Xie family's waters

run deep enough to drown a dozen censors.

How many times have I told you?

Don't you remember?

Have a few good meals gone to your head

and made you forget everything?

Why did you have to stick your nose into that?

Father,

everyone in Hengtang knows

the character of the Xie family's second son.

There's no way he had the brains or the nerve

to mastermind the grain swap.

It's obviously a setup.

Exactly.

The officialdom in Hengtang is a mess.

None of those people have clean hands.

Even if they didn't do that particular thing,

they're still entangled in it.

Either way, he's a dead man!

Why should you care about him?

What if I marry Xie Qingyuan?

Then our family and the Xie family

will be in-laws.

Would you still stand by and do nothing then?

Have you been bewitched by some vixen?

You've only met that girl a few times,

and already you're lovestruck?

Let me tell you again—

the Xie family's fourth daughter isn't

someone you can marry just because you want to!

Yeah!

I might not know her, but I know you!

I've watched

you grow up.

I know what kind of woman

will make you thrive and what kind

will ruin you.

Let me ask you one more thing—

have you asked the Xie family's opinion on this?

Then I'll send someone right now

to propose marriage with betrothal gifts!

I'll kick you to death!

I... I...

[Zhongwu Hall]

Father,

weren't you like me when you courted Mother,

pestering her relentlessly?

Why can't you believe

my feelings are just as sincere?

Right, Mother?

You...

Your mother is different from other women!

Your mother is the finest woman under heaven,

and I married her!

You need to remember what I told you.

You actually kicked him!

Scaring him would have been enough!

Why did you really kick him...

[Zhongwu Hall]

You actually kicked him!

There is something

I'm not sure I should say.

When Yan Rui came to the Xie residence,

he was after the ledger.

W-What did you say? The ledger?

Wasn't the ledger washed away by the river?

Brother,

I lied to you.

That night when the estate manager died,

the ledger never fell into the river.

I hid it away.

I just wanted to leave a way out for myself.

I've never wavered in my loyalty to you, Brother.

So you lied

and said the ledger was washed away

by the river?

Well...

Brother...

You brat,

playing games with me, huh?

I'll kill you, you brat.

Punish yourself with a drink!

I'll drink. I'll drink.

Brother,

doesn't the Xie family's second son

enjoy admiring that painting...

the Spring Mountain Night Gathering?

So I secretly hid the ledger in it

and had him keep it safe for me.

But I never expected that a couple of days ago, his mother

took it away.

You've grown some nerve, huh?

Enough to frame a woman and let her take the fall?

I wouldn't dare, Brother.

I only meant to

quietly hide it away.

I just didn't see this snag coming,

you see.

Then why don't you just get the ledger back?

I can't.

Xie Zhengjun said

his mother burned the ledger.

As if I'd believe that.

Y-Yan Rui

is an absolute bastard!

All those rumors about him and Fourth Lady Xie and whatever else—

he's really just trying to investigate us!

And... And...

And the Xie family's second son too—

he can't be trusted either.

He'll give us up sooner or later.

Brother,

we need to plan ahead.

I know.

Brother,

I...

I was nobody before.

Just a lowly fishmonger

with nothing to eat or wear,

and my whole family was nearly starving to death.

If it weren't for you,

I wouldn't be here today.

Look at me now—decked in gold and silver,

feasting on the finest delicacies.

I followed you from that small fishing village

to Hengtang.

I still hope

to go to the capital with you

one day.

Brother...

I've failed you.

Baofeng.

Brother!

What are you doing?

I owe you my life, Brother.

But I ruined everything

with the ledger.

My life is worthless.

I'm just afraid I'll drag you down with me.

[Xie Zhengjun also shared in the illicit proceeds.]

[Substituted old, moldy rice for the court's fresh relief grain.]

[Xie Zhengjun also shared in the illicit proceeds.]

[Substituted old, moldy rice for the court's disaster relief grain.]

[Guilty subject, Guo Baofeng]

Baofeng,

I've sent this year's

share of the profits to your wife.

My Lord.

Everyone in your household, young and old,

is taken care of.

Baofeng,

you can

go in peace.

Lord Wei?

Lord Wei,

I really didn't kill him.

G-Guo Baofeng was already dead when I got there.

My good nephew,

I know all that.

Listen to me.

At this point, you have no choice

but to confess to being the mastermind.

I heard

Yan Rui has the Criminal Justice Office at his disposal.

If they don't torture you today,

they certainly won't spare you tomorrow.

If you want to spare yourself

some physical suffering,

sign the confession first.

Once your father returns,

I'll definitely find a way to get you out.

Good nephew,

when the time comes,

just say you got into a dispute with Guo Baofeng

and killed him by accident.

Lord Wei, what a refined pastime,

helping him cook up a story in the dead of night.

Why don't you say it out loud

so we can hear it too?

You really are

Lord Yan's right-hand men.

Even this late at night, you're still diligently performing your duties.

I'm concerned about the case,

so I came especially to see the suspect

and persuade him to turn back before it's too late.

Is that so?

I thought perhaps you meant to use this opportunity

to let Second Young Master Xie be the scapegoat.

A prison is no ordinary place.

If some taboo is violated

and blood is shed,

it won't end well.

Lord Wei, you should go back.

Alright then.

Good nephew.

Take good care of yourself.

Mother.

Those armed guards outside

have switched shifts several times.

What should we do?

Why panic?

Back in the day, my husband

traveled far and wide.

He'd seen it all.

Since things have come to this,

there will eventually be a way to solve it.

But the rumors outside

are spreading like wildfire.

People have mouths of their own.

You can't stop people from

talking behind your back.

At worst, they'll get a few more days of laughs at our expense.

It won't do us any real harm.

Yes.

Qingyuan.

Did you mix

white sandalwood into today's hair oil?

Yes, Grandmother.

I also added 3 maces of biota seeds.

They help calm the mind.

So you'll be able to

sleep better tonight.

You're the filial one,

unlike those disappointing ones

who only cause me trouble.

Old Madam?

Old Madam!

Old Madam!

Qingyuan, you're here too.

I've been muddled these past 2 days,

and I didn't even

come to pay my respects to you after dinner.

You've always been muddled,

not just these 2 days.

Your son

has gotten us into such trouble.

Your reprimand is justified, Old Madam.

My dear Qingyuan,

this time you must help me

and also your second brother.

He's always

going on about you,

telling everyone you have a kind heart.

Surely you won't just leave him to die this time?

Old Madam, what do you think?

This bracelet

is nothing of great value.

Second Madam is in charge of

6 estates and 8 shops.

Since she's sincerely offered you this bracelet,

just accept it.

Right, right.

Look how lovely it looks on you.

I've long heard

that you're a good manager of the household,

and today I've finally seen it for myself.

It's just a pity that I'm not very bright.

Otherwise, I'd certainly love to learn from you.

We're family.

No need for such formality.

Your cleverness

is what caught the Old Madam's eye.

You should learn.

You need to learn from Second Madam

and study hard

so that you can be of some help to the family in the future.

Right.

If you really want to learn,

you may as well take over the pharmacy

on South Street to practice on.

It was going to

be yours eventually anyway.

That's great!

Thank you, Second Madam.

I certainly won't let your good intentions go to waste.

Since you're going to do it,

do it well.

Second Madam.

Okay.

Don't... Don't kill me!

Don't kill me!

Why would I kill you,

Second Young Master Xie?

I have my own uses for you.

How do you feel?

After being locked up for so long,

are you thirsty

or would you like something to eat?

Come on,

Second Young Master Xie.

What do you want?

What's this?

Fresh watermelon.

Have some.

Is it sweet?

Lord Yan,

are you also trying to make me confess

to being the mastermind?

Also?

I don't know who wants you to confess.

But as it happens, there's now some new evidence

that can prove you didn't kill him.

You? Being that kind?

You'd be delighted if I died here.

Zhengjun, how could you think so poorly of me?

I really want to help you clear your name.

So I want you to

tell me everything about how you and Guo Baofeng conspired.

That way, I can make a proper decision.

Yes,

I know.

As for the other day,

when I had you arrested at your home,

I truly had no choice.

I've been acting on His Majesty's orders.

Naturally, I need to give His Majesty an explanation, right?

As long as you can help me find out

who the real mastermind behind this is,

I guarantee you'll live.

You?

You always lie.

Last time, when you demanded money and grain

from my grandmother, you said the same thing.

This time is different.

I give you my word.

As long as you cooperate with us,

I can set you free.

Write.

Quickly.

Nice drawing.

What a pity.

The watermelon I dug out of the mass grave

has gone to waste.

Your Lordship,

Xie Zhengjun drew a hen to mock you,

and you're not the least bit angry?

Why would I be?

The one I was waiting for was never him,

but the Xie family's rescuer.

Rescuer?

[Xie Residence of Hengtang]

By Lord Yan's order,

no one may enter or leave the Xie Residence.

I'm the Heir of the Marquis of Danyang.

How dare you try to stop me?

Move aside!

Young Master Li!

Young Master Li!

Out of my way!

[Xie Residence of Hengtang]

I have something to say!

Young Master Li!

Young Master Li, please don't make things difficult for us.

I'm here to propose marriage,

not to break anyone out of prison.

Young Master Li!

Why are you stopping me?

Old Madam Xie.

Young Master Li,

why have you come?

I, Li Congxin, have come

to offer Eastern Pearls as betrothal gifts

and ask for the hand of a daughter of the Xie family.

Good child,

we all know what's in your heart.

Our Qingru

has also been hoping day and night

to tie the knot with you.

But the timing right now...

Madam, you're mistaken.

The one I want to marry

is the fourth daughter of your family, Qingyuan.

Chunzhi,

what did you say?

My Lady!

Young Master Li,

do you know the situation our family is in right now?

That's exactly why I've come.

And you're not afraid?

What is there to fear?

If I marry Qingyuan,

I'll protect her with my life

and won't let anyone harm her in the slightest.

And as for her maternal family,

I'll definitely take care of them as well.

Old Madam,

he's the only son of the Marquis of Danyang.

If she marries him,

it would be marrying up.

It'd save her from being tied to those...

The Xie Residence is quite lively today.

What?

What brings the Marquis of Danyang's

precious only son here uninvited?

Is there something you want to negotiate?

Exactly.

I've come to ask for the hand of the fourth daughter of the Xie family.

The items are quite impressive.

I just don't know if Fourth Lady Xie

prefers Eastern Pearls

or jade.

Qingyuan,

what do you say?

"Marriage is decided by the parents

and arranged by a matchmaker."

Now that Father isn't at home,

I'll naturally leave the decision entirely to you, Grandmother.

Marriage is a major event.

It cannot be taken lightly.

Even if Qingyuan agrees,

it must still be

approved by the elders of the families.

Old Madam, does that mean you consent?

Great.

I'll go home now

and inform my parents.

Qingyuan,

keep these safe for now.

Wait for me!

Young Master Li!

Fourth Lady Xie, looks like

you only like Eastern Pearls, but not jade.

Lord Yan!

Leave!

You may all go back and rest.

I

have something to say to Fourth Lady Xie.

Wenzhuo,

help me back so I can copy the sutras.

You useless wretch!

You useless wretch!

Father, please stop whipping him!

I was the one who sneaked out!

You've pulled your back. Stop then.

You've already pulled your back.

Are you okay?

Father.

I was the one who sneaked out.

Please don't punish him.

You wretch!

I ordered you again and again

not to let Young Master out of the courtyard!

Why didn't you listen?

And now look what happened.

He went to the Xie family and embarrassed me!

Your Lordship,

I was wrong.

I'll never do it again.

I'm going to marry Xie Qingyuan, no matter what.

-M-Marry... -If you won't allow it,

you might as well beat me to death.

You truly are a lovesick fool.

You really think that Xie girl

is some gentle and understanding beauty?

She's the boning knife in Yan Rui's hands!

Once you get involved with her,

you won't even know how you died!

Qingyuan would never collude with Yan Rui.

Anyway,

I won't marry anyone but her.

If you don't agree,

I'll starve myself to death!

Fine!

Starve yourself to death!

I'll simply pretend I never had a son at all!

Si!

Keep an eye on Young Master.

Lock him in the rear courtyard.

Don't let him step out of the residence again.

If he gets out again,

I'll break those legs of yours...

You...

Get out!

Second Sister,

are you okay?

Tell me, what kind of dirty tricks

did that woman use

to bewitch Chunzhi so completely?

I don't know either.

Probably the same tricks

she's been using on Lord Yan.

Pretending to be innocent and harmless,

but actually full of schemes.

Just now, I even saw her

in the hallway,

pulling and tugging at Lord Yan.

Xie Qingyuan,

I've been following you for so long,

yet I've gotten zero response.

Do you really think I'm your watchdog?

Let me ask you.

Were you sincere when you told Old Madam Xie

that your marriage was up to your parents?

Since you know I'm a puppet on strings,

why bother caring

whose hand holds my strings?

In any case, it certainly won't be your hand.

Xie Qingyuan!

I'll show you what's what today!

What?

Second Lady Xie, now it's your turn

to beat up your own family?

Your family is so interesting.

Lord Yan,

you never turn a blind eye to anything.

But today,

you can tolerate Xie Qingyuan

pining for another man right under your nose?

I'd actually like to hear

how she's been pining for another man.

She's been coveting Chunzhi for a long time.

She secretly approached him

and even shamelessly

hid the jade pendant

Chunzhi gave me.

I saw it with my own eyes.

It was I who helped get the jade pendant back.

It's absolutely true!

Who did you say this jade pendant was from?

It was...

It was Young Master Li who gave it to Second Sister.

You stole it from Xie Qingyuan.

I didn't!

Then it was you who treated what I gave you

as a mere toy.

Second Sister, since you like it,

you can have it.

In that case,

why don't you take the bracelet Second Madam gave me

as well?

Either way, they're just things

others forced me to accept.

[Harmony Among Kin]

You still have the nerve to cry?

Look at the situation we're in.

Why did you mess with her?

-Xie Qingyuan set Second Sister up first! -Enough!

I truly thought that jade pendant

was from Chunzhi.

Who could have known

it was a token of her illicit affair with Yan Rui!

Not another word.

You're confined to your room for 3 days

and must copy the Heart Sutra 100 times.

Yes.

Grandmother...

You...

[Danyue Pavilion]

[Qinyue Corridor]

♪ If the wind softly whispers your name ♪

didn't stand here all night, did you?

♪ If my heart softly hears your voice ♪

As for that jade pendant,

Grandmother has already punished Second Sister and Third Sister.

Your Lordship isn't still angry, are you?

No.

♪ I'm still here, holding on to our memories ♪

Then what does Your Lordship want?

Woman,

is your heart really made of cold iron?

♪ Quietly waiting in the passage of time for a reply ♪

Your grandmother punished your two sisters

to appease me.

And you,

the main culprit.

♪ Listening to every word, every line, everything about you ♪

Yet you could sleep soundly until dawn, completely at ease.

Aren't you afraid I'll

♪ Your gentle breath, the traces left by longing ♪

have your entire household

arrested?

Would you?

Yan,

hurry up.

Drink this bowl of hot ginger soup.

You must've caught a cold.

And you!

Seriously,

it's so cold in the morning, and you dress so lightly.

-What if you catch a cold? -Granny, I'm fine.

I'm not cold.

Drink it.

Don't you think you owe me an explanation?

Your Lordship,

♪ If the wind softly whispers your name ♪

I'm a person with a mind of my own.

Whether I like something

or dislike it,

it's my right.

♪ If my heart softly hears your voice ♪

I don't owe anyone an explanation.

Even if you didn't want it,

♪ I'm still here, holding on to our memories ♪

you shouldn't have given it to someone else, right?

I originally wanted to throw it away.

♪ Quietly waiting in the passage of time for a reply ♪

But her taking it

seems no different

from throwing it away.

♪ Listening to every word, every line, everything about you ♪

Xie Qingyuan,

do you really have to anger me?

♪ Your gentle breath, the traces left by longing ♪

No.

It's just that, at that moment,

I truly felt I had no need for that jade pendant.

♪ No sight could ever compare to you, forever in my heart ♪

♪ My every joy and sorrow has become part of your journey ♪

Listen carefully then.

♪ A lifetime, devoted only to you ♪

You'll need it.

♪ Giving you all the love in my heart ♪

♪ Our paths have never truly parted ♪

Your Lordship!

Your Lordship.

Xie Shu's carriage

has entered the city.