Original subtitles

[Spring of The Blade]

[Episode 22]

What a good show.

I've enjoyed the show so much

that half my anger is gone already.

I never knew there could be so many

interesting things going on in the Xie household.

Please, go on.

If you keep me entertained,

I might just let

what happened last night slide.

Since Qinghe

has abandoned the Xie family,

as far as we're concerned,

the Xie family has never had such a daughter.

Three feet of silk,

a stage for a play.

At first, you don't know

what the play means.

Look again, and you're already

part of it.

Commander, you want to hear about the Xie family's interesting stories.

But I'd say

the most interesting one

is that if you

had married Qingyuan back then,

there wouldn't be a rumor today

about her meeting a man in secret.

Commander, why

won't you

just let the Xie family go?

Could it be

that you still have designs on Qingyuan?

You might as well tell us today,

so we can prepare ourselves

and think about

how to weather

the Marquis of Danyang household's

thunderous fury.

Grandmother,

I was the one who gave Eldest Sister

the idea to elope.

I was the one who disguised myself as her,

lured those people away,

and gave her a chance to escape.

And I was the one

who accidentally

ran into the Commander.

There's nothing

between the Commander and me.

But I take full responsibility

for such an improper act

that brought Commander here to question us.

I apologize to Grandmother

and Father,

and to Commander as well.

Why didn't I think there was nothing between us?

Fourth Lady, how exactly did you distinguish yourself from me?

Lord Xie, you certainly raised your children well.

The Xie family truly lives up to the saying, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

I thought

a woman as extraordinary as Fourth Lady

would be different.

But to my surprise, even as

the fiancée of the honorable Heir to the Marquis of Danyang,

she could still

sneak around with another man in the middle of the night.

Your Ladyship, your present is an honor.

Forgive us for not welcoming you properly.

Why are you kneeling on the ground?

It pains me to see you like this.

Your Ladyship,

what brings you here?

Xie Qinghe lured my nephew away.

Naturally, I'm here to demand an answer.

Another person here to demand an answer.

Commander, since you are here too,

I'll have you

bear witness.

Now that the marriage

between our Pei family and the Eldest Lady Xie has been called off,

we have no further ties with the Xie family.

Your Eldest Lady left without permission

and eloped with my nephew,

tarnishing the Pei family's reputation

and making us the laughingstock of Hengtang.

How do you

plan to settle this score?

Your Ladyship, that is rather one-sided.

My eldest sister and Young Master Pei are in love.

Leaving together was a decision of both of them.

How can you say that either one lured the other?

Your Ladyship, you are absolutely right.

This is entirely the Xie family's fault.

My unfilial daughter behaved disgracefully.

I hereby

apologize to the Founding Count's family.

I hope this will not affect the bond between our two families.

The bond?

Who says we have any bond with you?

Our Pei ancestors

helped the Grand Emperor conquer the realm

and were granted the title of Founding Count.

Your Xie family only earned your title because of a son who died.

How can your family possibly compare with ours?

You...

Well, in your opinion,

what can we do

to let you vent your anger?

If you want to make amends, it's not impossible.

You took my nephew away,

so you owe me a person in return.

Your Xie family seems

to have plenty of plain-looking girls.

This Fourth Lady is the only one

who's pleasing to my eye.

Why not

give her to me as a maid?

Then I'll let bygones be bygones.

Your Ladyship, you're going too far.

Whatever wrongs Xie Qingyuan may have done,

she is still a lady of the Xie family.

Humiliating her

is humiliating the Xie family,

which is humiliating the Earl of Zhongyong, whose title

was personally bestowed by His Majesty!

What?

You gave your daughter to the Hu family as a concubine,

and that was perfectly respectable?

I simply took a liking to Fourth Lady's beauty

and wanted to take her as my maid.

They're both selling daughters.

How exactly am I humiliating you?

Absurd.

Xie Qingyuan is betrothed to the Heir of the Marquis of Danyang.

You want her?

Have you asked the Heir?

Old Madam,

at your age,

why are you using a junior to pressure me?

You should ask Fourth Lady this—

she already has a betrothal to the Marquis of Danyang's Heir,

yet she was caught meeting the Commander in secret.

What would the Marquis's household make of that?

The wedding hasn't even taken place,

and the Xie family has caused such a scandal.

I've never

heard of anything like it.

You...

You...

I've long heard about Her Ladyship's sense of humor.

Mother,

it's indeed a well-deserved reputation.

She really knows how to joke.

Didn't the Fourth Lady just say

that there's nothing between us?

In fact,

I'm the one with ulterior motives.

I'm the one who has feelings for Fourth Lady.

So what exactly

did Fourth Lady do wrong?

Good.

Well said.

What a perfect couple.

It makes me quite jealous.

However, since my nephew Lanshan was lured away,

I can hardly congratulate you two.

Your Ladyship.

My unfilial eldest daughter

will be brought back to you

as soon as possible.

You may do with her

as you please.

I'll definitely give the Founding Count's family

a satisfactory answer.

Lord Xie, I think

the Xie family's hundred acres of fertile land

would be

a fitting answer to the Founding Count's family.

Don't take offense.

As his aunt,

I have to look out for my nephew.

A pity your concern is misplaced, Your Ladyship.

It goes against

Young Master Pei's wishes.

How can you claim to be acting for his own good?

My eldest sister ran away

from her betrothal to the Hu family.

What does that have to do with the Pei family?

I had no idea

that Your Ladyship's reach was this long.

So you think

you can speak for the Hu family?

Fourth Lady, you certainly have a silver tongue,

which makes me more interested in you.

But I wonder, now that the Xie family has offended

both the Marquis of Danyang's household and the Pei family over the elopement,

how will you hold your ground in Hengtang from now on?

Who says the Xie family has offended the Marquis of Danyang household?

Father-in-law.

Grandmother.

Your Ladyship.

Qingyuan.

Heir.

Heir, you sure are magnanimous,

willing to tolerate what others cannot.

I trust Qingyuan's character.

Now that she is betrothed,

she would never do anything

to let the Marquis of Danyang household down.

So, Your Ladyship,

please don't trouble yourself over our family.

As for the elopement,

the Xie family will certainly apologize to Commissioner Hu.

Your Ladyship,

If there is nothing else,

please leave.

Fine.

You're all here putting on an act for me now.

here.

I wonder if you can still be as close as a family

after I leave.

We will meet again.

One day,

One day, I'll have the Xie family and the Palace Guard Division under my thumb.

Qingyuan.

I came immediately when I heard

something happened to the Xie family.

Seeing that you're alright

puts my mind at ease.

Thank you for your concern, Heir.

You said just

that Eldest Lady Xie eloped because she

didn't want to be forced into a marriage.

So, Fourth Lady,

were you also forced by the Xie family

to marry the Heir of the Marquis of Danyang?

No.

It is what I want.

Commander.

It's getting late.

Now that this matter is settled,

and you've said that what happened last night

had nothing to do with Qingyuan,

let's leave it at that.

Old Madam, there's no need to rush me out.

Are you planning to keep punishing Fourth Lady

after I leave to vent your anger?

I can't allow that.

Our Xie family is fair when it comes to rewards and punishments,

but Qingyuan is my daughter after all.

How could I mistreat her?

You can rest assured.

I already made my feelings for her clear.

I've made up my mind.

Starting today, I'll stay at the Xie Residence

to keep her safe.

Third Madam.

Sister Fangchun said

that Eldest Sister and Young Master Pei

have already crossed the river.

Neither the Xie family

nor the Pei family

can catch up with them now.

That's good.

Third Madam,

what are your plans for the future?

I'm going to stay in the temple.

I should have broken free

from this household cage long ago

and lived for myself.

Now I've finally gotten my wish.

You don't need to worry about me anymore.

This thing

was left by your Mother.

I should have returned it to you long ago.

I...

am sorry.

I think

if your Mother could see you like this today,

smart,

brave,

and beautiful,

she would definitely be very happy

and proud.

Though I don't want you

to be consumed by hatred,

if this is the path you've chosen,

I'll pray for you

every day.

May the blessings I've earned

see you safely on your way.

Thank you, Third Madam.

Third Madam.

Take care.

That is because

Xie Shu is hiding a secret he can tell no one.

A monstrous secret.

And that secret

lies in your mother's bronze mirror.

[Fuyu Pavilion]

[Qinyue Corridor]

[Fuyu Pavilion]

Would you really be content marrying someone

you don't love?

I'd regret it even more

if I couldn't avenge my mother.

My Lord,

I've been betrothed to the Heir of the Marquis of Danyang.

We shouldn't meet like this anymore.

Shen Run, you...

Who dares to stop me

when I want to see you?

Put me down!

I want things between us to be improper.

Who can save you?

Tell me,

was everything between us in the past

a lie?

So

you never liked me?

Why are you afraid to look at me?

Look at me.

Answer my question.

Must I like you?

Say it again.

Say again that you don't like me.

Say again that you don't like me!

You won't say it?

Then you must like me.

Even if we're destined to take different paths,

if you're going to marry someone,

marry someone you love.

That's not necessary.

I want to take down Xie Shu,

and you want to protect him.

Since we are on different paths,

there is no need for us to be entangled anymore.

[Fuyu Pavilion]

Commander, I have long heard you are heartless.

I didn't expect you to have such a side.

What do you want to say?

I just wanted to remind you again

not to forget His Majesty's instructions before our departure.

Not only have I not forgotten His Majesty's instructions,

but I also know why he gave them.

Since you know how important this is,

you should be even more cautious.

Mother,

failing to secure the marriage with the Hu family

is ultimately disadvantageous for us.

[Harmony Among Kin]

At least we didn't lose

the Marquis's household.

Even if it's the lesser of two options,

it's still better than losing everything.

Qingyuan's wedding is coming up.

Although she helped Qinghe escape,

as her father,

you should know to focus on the bigger picture

and let the smaller things go.

Take good care of this future...

marchioness.

I understand.

You must remember

that the family estate you manage today

is not solely your own achievement.

It is the foundation our ancestors

built for you.

In the future,

you will need your descendants

to build upon it and make it even stronger.

Never become so full of yourself

that you forget how you

made it through this day.

Yes.

Mother, you are absolutely right.

We must never forget our roots.

I will never forget

how you raised me and cared for me from childhood.

Even now,

in the Xie family,

you are still the pillar.

That is why

I often feel ashamed.

Ever since you entrusted the family seal to me back then,

you've still

been carrying much of the burden

of this family on your shoulders.

I've truly fallen short.

I will definitely

work twice as hard

and strive to shoulder

the Xie family entirely myself as soon as I can,

so you can enjoy a peaceful life

and spend your twilight years in comfort early.

[Xie Clan Ancestral Hall]

Have things been taken care of

with Hu Wenzhuo?

If she really brings Commissioner Hu here,

putting aside whether

he'll cause trouble for you,

Shen Run alone

will be hard to deal with.

Don't worry, Mother.

I have written a letter overnight,

detailing the situation in Hengtang.

Rest assured.

Master!

Old Madam!

[Harmony Among Kin]

[Xie Clan Ancestral Hall]

Commissioner Hu

is arriving.

Dear,

have some pastries.

I made them for you myself.

What kind of pastries could possibly be worth

the trouble of bringing them to me yourself?

Let me take a guess.

My brother

is coming.

Lord Hu Xing is here,

and Xie Shu is scared.

Dear,

that's not fair.

Do you have any idea

how much trouble

I've gone through for your sake?

Do you know how much

it pains me to see you like this?

Go.

Bring me the new clothes

I just had made.

Mother,

are you sleepy?

I'm not sleepy.

I'm so sleepy.

Mother,

when do you think

Uncle will arrive?

Mother!

I fell asleep.

I'm getting old. I'm not much use anymore.

I'll go back and rest.

When Commissioner Hu arrives,

apologize to him for me.

Father, Mother,

I'll take Grandmother back to rest now.

You should also get some rest.

My brother's visiting this time

has brought back so many memories.

Where was it that we first met?

At the Chrysanthemum Festival

in Hengtang.

That day,

you were dressed in green.

You hardly spoke,

but your pride couldn't be hidden.

Many people thought you were dull

and aloof,

but I thought

you were completely different from those young noblemen

who fawned over my brother.

I was foolish enough

to believe in that noble, unyielding facade of yours.

I've never lied to you.

Enough about these meaningless things.

Between you and me

lie the lives of our two children.

No affection can make up for this blood debt.

Besides,

have you ever loved me?

What are you trying to say?

The humiliation I suffered in the Xie family for decades—

I'll let it go.

But my last concern

is the marriages of Qingrong and Qingru.

If they make good marriages,

I'll let everything go.

But if you can't even do that,

I'll have my brother

wipe out the Xie family,

leaving no one spared.

Looks like

your brother-in-law isn't coming.

What a pity.

Yes.

What a pity.

I thought

I'd finally get to meet Commissioner Hu.

On my way here,

I suddenly remembered

that when I was little, I once called you "Uncle"

and witnessed the friendship between you and my father back then.

I also know that you once traveled to the capital together to take the imperial exam,

sharing the same lofty ambitions.

How could you

forget the old days?

Back then,

your father and I

made a solemn vow together.

I, Shen Zhibai.

And I, Xie Shu.

We hereby swear to become sworn brothers.

We weren't born on the same day,

but we ask to die on the same day.

Before Lord Guan,

we make this oath.

Should either of us break it,

may Heaven strike us down!

Brother.

Brother.

Even if I have to die a thousand deaths in this life,

I will never forget it.

For the past 9 years,

I've never understood

what interest could have driven everyone here

to jointly frame

a good official,

accusing him

of pocketing the coal supplies

and delaying disaster relief,

which led to dozens of people freezing to death.

What was really going on?

And where did the money go that they

accused my father of embezzling?

It wasn't until I came to Hengtang

that I started hearing so much about that lord.

Lord Xie, you refused to tell me who he was.

And those criminals who were tortured

and sentenced to death

also refused to tell me who he was.

It wasn't until you hastily arranged to marry off your daughters

that I suddenly understood.

The man you've been desperately trying to win over,

the man you've been currying favor with,

was that lord behind it all—

your brother-in-law,

Hu Xing, who now holds the position of Commissioner

at court.

The coal case

back then

had nothing to do with me.

I know nothing

about the lord you're talking about.

If it really

was Lord Hu,

then at most, it was merely...

a coincidence.

Then is it also a coincidence that His Majesty ordered me

to protect you at all costs?

I suppose it is.

What else could it be?

Run,

I just have one thing

I don't quite understand.

Regarding this coal case

involving your late father,

His Majesty has already investigated it thoroughly back then

and cleared your family's name.

Why reopen it now?

The officialdom

is like this bowl of tea.

Once the person who poured it leaves,

it quickly goes cold.

But if you insist on jumping in,

it can become as dangerous as the sea.

You should get out while you can.

Lord Xie, you're a smart man.

You must already know who His Majesty

is targeting.

A royal command cannot be disobeyed.

I'm putting aside my family feud to work with you.

I only hope you truly haven't forgotten

the vow you made.

Brother,

as long as the two of us

stand united and work wholeheartedly

for the court and for the people,

we'll make those corrupt officials in Hengtang

spit out every last tael they've embezzled.

I won't forget.

There are two things

I will never forget

in this life.

First,

His Majesty's grace.

Second,

your father,

my good brother who now rests in heaven,

Lord Shen.

Officer,

you just arrived here,

so I'm afraid you don't know how things work around here.

Think about it.

Whose ship

did you detain today?

And whose cargo

did you confiscate?

Since the ancestors' time, the water transport in Hengtang

has been under the Pei family's control.

Not even the Emperor of Heaven himself

could interfere with this waterway.

I don't care whose rules apply here,

nor do I care whose ship it is.

Today,

none of you is leaving the shore.

I said so.

I...

am the rule.

I'm kindly reminding you.

The water transport belongs to the Pei family,

the Founding Count's family.

Behind them is Commissioner Hu from the capital.

You'd better think this through carefully.

If you insist on stepping into

this den of death,

I'm afraid you might not even have a body left intact.

By then, you can blame no one but yourself!

Stop!

So it's you, Commander.

My subordinates are ignorant.

I hope you'll be gracious enough to let it go

and not let them spoil your mood.

Stop yelling!

If the Commander had made a move, you'd be dead already!

Hurry up and thank the Commander for sparing your life!

Thank you, Commander,

for sparing my life.

Thank you, Commander,

for sparing our lives!

Fan Zhong,

take them away.

Inventory the cargo,

seal the ship, and check the books.

Yes.

For our wedding, my mother

hired craftsmen

to make new furniture for our bridal chamber from golden-thread nanmu.

My father also asked a friend

to bring dozens of bolts of fine Yun brocade from Suzhou.

Oh, right.

My mother keeps urging me

to decide on the design of the wedding clothes,

but I thought it's better to let you decide.

I will follow your arrangements, Heir.

Qingyuan,

I know you don't have feelings for me,

but I believe

that one day,

you will.

I only hope

that you're not forcing yourself

to make this decision.

♪ If the wind softly whispers your name ♪

I'm not forcing myself.

Given my background,

♪ If my heart softly hears your voice ♪

having you favor me

is my blessing.

I often feel

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

that you're like a piece of cold jade.

No matter how long I hold you against my body to warm you,

all that ever warms up

is my own body heat.

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

So once I let go,

you'll be cold again, as if no one has ever touched you.

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

But that's alright.

I the future,

I'll always protect you

♪ Your gentle breath, the traces left by longing ♪

and keep you warm.

Since we're on different paths,

I won't work with you.

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

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

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Just lost a little trinket.

♪ A lifetime, devoted only to you ♪

Some things

are always with you,

♪ Giving you all the love in my heart ♪

so you start to think they'll always be there.

♪ Our paths have never truly parted ♪

Qingyuan.

Whoever hurts you

is my enemy.

You want to avenge your mother.

And I'll do it with you.

Can you tell me

♪ If the wind softly whispers your name ♪

who it is?

♪ If my heart softly hears your voice ♪

Heir,

if you truly want to help me,

I'll tell you

someday.

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

Alright.

We're getting married soon.

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

Qingyuan, can you

call me Chunzhi?

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

Chunzhi.

♪ Your gentle breath, the traces left by longing ♪

Don't worry.

Since I've agreed to marry you,

I'll be a good wife to you.

Alright!

Let's go.

Let's go buy the Eastern Pearls.