Original subtitles

[Spring of The Blade]

[Episode 25]

I had no idea he was coming

to steal her away.

Shen Run

was simply abusing

His Majesty's authority and doing as he pleased.

I only found out at the last moment—

there was nothing I could do.

Are you using the new Emperor to intimidate me?

No.

How would I dare?

The new Emperor had the two of you

return here one after another—

precisely so Shen Run could be

the executioner's blade meant to cut me down!

And you—

you're the executioner standing beside that blade,

waiting for the order to strike.

Isn't that right?

My dear brother,

you mustn't frighten me like this.

How would I ever dare?

Brother,

ever since I entered officialdom,

you've always been my greatest support.

Without your backing,

I would be nothing.

It was also your clever strategy

to have me feign loyalty to the new Emperor.

To put it bluntly,

I'm entirely

at your mercy here.

How could I possibly harbor the slightest disloyalty toward you?

Jingzhi.

Yes.

We've known each other for over 20 years.

-Yes. -You know me well.

-Sit. -I…

Yes.

Brother,

Shen Run

really doesn't know his place.

The moment he brought the Palace Guards

into Hengtang,

he was already in your grasp, Brother.

But I don't think this matter

is that simple.

For him to seize Qingyuan so brazenly,

in front of everyone—

could it really

just be about her?

Then...

He's seen through it.

He's seen through the fact that we appear to be at odds

but are actually putting on a show for the new Emperor.

If he really has seen through it,

this matter will become far more serious.

Yes.

Regardless,

that man

is a grave threat to us.

We can't let him live for long.

We can't let him live for long—

is that how you see it?

Yes.

That's what I think too.

But...

he's your new son-in-law.

Could you truly...

bring yourself to do it?

Brother,

Qingyuan is my own flesh and blood,

but

it depends on the matter at hand.

If it comes down to life and death, the greater good must come first—

I can't afford to concern myself with much else.

Then she'll just have to suffer for it.

Come on, Brother.

It's a joyous occasion.

-I'm coming. -Let's have a proper drink.

Where's Yunya?

Yunya!

My Lady, food's ready!

-Yunya, hurry up! -Food's ready!

We're waiting for you!

Darling!

Coming!

-Darling! -My Lady!

-These... -Hurry up!

are my specialties.

Well, not exactly my specialties.

My real specialty is pastries.

Come on, sit.

Rather than exchanging empty pleasantries with outsiders,

I'd rather have a drink with you, my family.

-Come on. -Cheers. Cheers.

-Come on! -Cheers!

-Come on, to a happy occasion. -Cheers!

Everyone thinks Commander Shen is a ruthless official,

but little do they know that in front of my sister, Yunya,

he's such a gentle and considerate man.

Fangchun, once we part today,

I don't know when we'll meet again.

Come on,

let's have another drink.

-Come on. -Cheers.

That's enough.

We still have to leave the city tonight.

You think my alcohol tolerance is as poor as yours?

I'm a legend when it comes to drinking.

I can drink all night

and never get drunk.

Don't just talk.

Have some food.

-Come on, eat up. -Come on.

-You don't think it's very good, do you? -Come on.

I nearly forgot about my specialty herbal chicken soup.

It's still on the stove.

I'll go get it.

-Wait for me. -Granny.

Eat up, eat up.

Don't mind me.

-Let me help you, Granny. -I'm so forgetful today.

Let's wait for Granny.

Let me offer everyone another toast.

Come on.

Cheers.

[Shen Residence]

Brother,

no need to see us off further.

Fangchun,

write to me when you have the time.

When we meet again someday,

we should drink together.

Che,

take care of yourself.

Also,

don't forget what I told you.

Brother,

take care.

And you too.

Sister-in-law,

until we meet again.

[Shen Residence]

The road ahead is long!

Until we meet again!

Che seems

different somehow.

Have you noticed

he appears to have some feelings for Dong Fangchun?

Yunya.

Dear,

I want to hear you call me "Darling."

♪ Sorrowed by many a farewell, comforted by sweet memories ♪

Darling.

♪ One life, one love, one heart devoted to you ♪

♪ In the depths of darkness, you are the stars ♪

♪ Trample the abyss, together we run ♪

♪ May we grow deep in years together, sharing one life and one pillow ♪

♪ Rise and fall as one, whether we're united or apart ♪

♪ Hand in hand, we brave all the storms of life ♪

♪ Never to part, forevermore ♪

Isn't this what you wanted?

♪ Sorrowed by many a farewell, comforted by sweet memories ♪

What I want

is a marriage recognized in name and in law.

♪ One life, one love, one heart devoted to you ♪

♪ In the depths of darkness, you are the stars ♪

♪ Trample the abyss, together we run ♪

♪ May we grow deep in years together, sharing one life and one pillow ♪

♪ Rise and fall as one, whether we're united or apart ♪

♪ Hand in hand, we brave all the storms of life ♪

♪ Never to part, forevermore ♪

Dear.

Shen Run!

Shen Run!

Shen Run!

Commander.

What...

What happened?

Commander!

Madam,

with the Commander's skills,

how many people in this world could ever get close enough to harm him?

Chen Qingyuan,

out of personal grudge, you murdered your husband,

Shen Run, a second-rank court official

and Commander of the Palace Guard.

The evidence is conclusive,

and we've caught you red-handed.

Seize her!

Feng En!

The Commander's body isn't even cold yet,

and you dare slander his wife like this?

Feng En,

the truth hasn't been established yet.

What are you really after,

pinning this crime on her so recklessly?

Commander Shen unfortunately died in the line of duty.

By His Majesty's order,

I've been appointed Acting Commander.

Apprehending the real culprit

is my duty.

Just because she's the Commander's widow,

does that mean she should be cleared of suspicion for having blood on her hands?

Acting Commander?

The Commander has just met with misfortune.

Where did the imperial order come from?

Have you sold yourself to Hu Xing?

Traitor.

Whether she's the true culprit or not,

His Majesty and Commissioner Hu will decide.

Take her away!

-Who dares to move? -I'm the Second-Rank Lady of Honor,

conferred by His Majesty himself.

To take me away,

you'll need the Court of Judicial Review's fish tally,

a warrant from the Vice Censor-in-Chief,

and His Majesty's own vermilion rescript.

Only then will I so much as blink.

If this is reported to His Majesty,

every one of you will die

before I do!

Want to torture me into a confession,

then silence me forever so I can't contradict it?

I don't think

you have what it takes.

Very well.

Palace Guards, hear my order—

from this day forward,

guard the Shen Residence closely,

especially this criminal woman who killed your commander!

Yes, sir!

I've already had the coroner examine the body.

The knife wound was indeed inflicted by this person,

and Shen Run showed no sign of breathing.

He is unquestionably dead.

Good!

A wise man knows which way the wind is blowing.

You...

are a wise man.

Though you serve His Majesty,

you understand that

now that the new Emperor has ascended the throne,

his ambitions

are nothing more

than a passing breeze.

At most, it can strip a few leaves from the tree.

But the great tree's

roots run deep, tangled beyond all tracing—

nothing can shake it to its roots.

Once the wind passes,

everyone will

settle back into their places.

And those who bend with the wind

will meet a tragic end.

You're right, Commissioner Hu.

I've long since come to understand this.

Now that Shen Run is dead,

I stand the best chance of becoming the Commander.

But for that,

I still need your help, Commissioner Hu.

I've

always treated smart people well.

Rest assured.

Whatever I have,

you'll have your share.

Thank you, Commissioner Hu.

Nine years ago,

Lord Shen Zhibai,

the Jiangnan Transport Commissioner,

sat right in this very chair

and wrote the Ten Suggestions on Equalization.

At that time, we truly believed

the people would be well-fed and warmly clothed from then on.

But who would have thought...

he'd be framed by the officials here who joined forces against him.

and die in the prime of his life?

Nine years later,

his eldest son,

[Commander of the Palace Guard Shen Run]

Shen Run, Commander of the Palace Guard,

who was carrying out the Emperor's order to investigate the old cases,

likewise met a violent death.

[Mengliang]

Gentlemen,

seeing you all return safely

has finally

lifted

a weight from my heart.

You're too kind, Commissioner Hu.

When it comes to the affairs of the court,

we are too insignificant

to have any real say.

But now, with refugees flooding across Jiangnan,

if we turn a blind eye to this,

all our years of studying the sages' teachings will have been for nothing.

Yet with Commander Shen dead,

the corrupt officials he once imprisoned

have all been reinstated.

In Hengtang,

is anyone still willing to listen to the people's voices?

To our opponent,

Commander Shen.

He has fought against us for years.

Today, everything can finally be put to rest.

We ought to send him off properly.

If no one in Hengtang is willing to listen,

we'll go to the capital.

If they still can't hear us,

then we'll shout louder.

[Memorial Tablet of the Late Shen Run]

If we're still not loud enough,

then we'll shout with our lives!

The heads of Hengtang's 100,000 citizens,

one by one,

could stretch all the way to the steps of the imperial throne!

I refuse to believe that,

no matter how powerful Hu Xing is,

he can keep all of us under his thumb.

Now,

Shen Run is gone.

At last, Hengtang

can see clear skies again.

Indeed.

I hope you will

all return to your posts,

regroup, and rise once more.

We must regain control of Hengtang.

The rules...

remain as they always were—

your interests

will remain yours.

Any objections?

Commissioner Hu.

For the imperial court,

for you, Commissioner Hu,

we shall serve with utmost devotion!

Good.

Then...

let us celebrate!

Come on!

Drink. Let's drink.

Come on, fill it up.

Hengtang is ours again!

Yeah!

It's still ours!

Smells nice, doesn't it?

This is the first jar of aged wine we sealed

when we first arrived at Hengtang.

A fine vintage.

I've said it before.

This jar of wine

must be saved for an important day,

to share with important people

and mark the occasion.

Yuting,

what's wrong?

Today, everything has finally fallen into place.

It's a day to celebrate our victory.

Why do you seem so downcast instead?

I just suddenly feel all this is a bit...

dull.

Dull?

Returning to Hengtang this time

was your idea.

Controlling the canal transport

and contesting your family headship—

haven't you

achieved everything you wanted?

What else do you wish for?

I'll help you achieve that too.

Whether it's in the capital

or in Hengtang,

it's always

the same handful of faces

and the same handful of families.

And so what if we win?

It's just a different stage

for the same old play.

I'm tired of it.

We finally came across someone interesting.

Look at you.

You've met every kind of man there is.

Why does Shen Run's death

suddenly make you

so sentimental?

It's not about him.

I just feel sorry for that perfect couple.

Before I could tear them apart myself,

they were already separated by death.

It's really

taken some of the fun out of this play.

Here.

In the past, we wrote articles

so they would circulate in the capital.

But this piece we write now

isn't for the officials,

nor to protect ourselves.

It's for whatever shred of humanity...

still remains in our hearts.

The article is finalized.

If any of you don't want to be implicated in this,

you may leave now.

Those of you willing to stay,

join me

in sending this article out.

Lord Shen Zhibai

and Commander Shen Run—

both gave their lives for the common people.

How could we possibly be afraid

to put our names to this proclamation?

To plead for the people,

I'd die without regret!

I'd gladly go with you, Jieyuan Zhou!

I'd gladly go with you, Jieyuan Zhou!

Mr. Zhou!

Third Lady Xie.

Mr. Zhou.

This time,

don't copy the wrong sutra.

Thank you, Senior Zhou.

If it weren't for you,

I don't know how many times I would've copied the wrong sutra.

And thank you for keeping these papers for me.

It's clear

how deeply you miss your mother.

How about

I draw a portrait of her for you?

You know how to paint as well?

I don't remember much of her.

I only remember Mother

had a crisp, clear laugh.

Her hair was very dark and glossy.

Whenever she held me,

her hands always smelled so sweet.

When Mother was pregnant with my brother,

everyone was careful not to let her tire herself out.

But Mother doted on me.

She would always pick me up

and spin me around the room.

She...

always spoke slowly and gently,

never sharply or harshly,

and her hair at the temples was never messy.

She had deep-set eyes,

with the corners of her eyes slightly curved upward.

But if anyone ever bullied me,

her eyes would narrow sharply,

and she wouldn't back down to anyone.

Your mother

sounds like a truly special person.

Why do you say that?

No matter how neatly her hair was combed,

it would come loose

if she spun you around the room.

You said

her laugh was crisp and clear,

yet her speech was slow and gentle.

That doesn't sound like the same person.

Senior Zhou, you mean

I remember her wrong?

Could it be two different people—

one fierce on the outside but gentle within,

and the other gentle on the outside but fierce within?

It's just that you've merged both of their virtues

into a single person in your memory.

Mother,

the herbal decoction is ready.

Careful, it's hot.

It was only a minor illness at first,

and I didn't think much of it.

Who would've thought it'd get worse day by day?

I've taken several doses of the decoction already,

but there's been no improvement.

Perhaps the decoction just takes time to work.

Take a few more doses.

I'm sure it'll help.

The decoction I prepared for you with my own hands

carries all my filial devotion, Mother.

Even Mr. Zhou said

that my painting of Mother

has traces of two different people in it.

You've raised me since I was a child.

Honestly, I barely remember what my birth mother looked like anymore.

The mother in my heart

has actually always worn your face.

Mother,

was my birth mother

really poisoned by euphorbia?

The wicked deed Mei Yinghua committed

has already been established.

Why are you

bringing this up all of a sudden?

I heard

my birth mother's lips were purple when she died.

That's not a sign of euphorbia poisoning

but of suffocation.

I knew it.

While I've been ill,

someone's been filling your head with nonsense again.

Mother.

What you had me copy was not the Rebirth Sutra at all,

but the Soul-Suppressing Mantra,

right?

How is that possible?

Indeed.

How could my loving mother

ever have me personally suppress the spirit of my birth mother?

How could I...

have had you copy

the Soul-Suppressing Mantra?

Maybe you've copied the wrong one.

Maybe you've copied the wrong one.

I'll go check.

Indeed. You've copied the wrong one.

Well...

Indeed, wrong sutra!

It must've been some servant

who mixed up the two sutras.

I'm to blame.

I'm to blame!

Let's copy the right sutra later, okay?

Let's copy the right sutra,

okay?

Wrong sutra?

Mother,

was it really just a mistake?

Qingrong,

do you really believe

I would harm your mother?

You've been

my daughter for 19 years.

How have I treated you?

Don't you trust me?

Trust me,

okay?

Of course I trust Mother.

Good girl, Qingrong.

My good Qingrong.

Mother.

It's time for your decoction.

I'll definitely finish...

the decoction

you brewed for me.

Purge the corrupt officials and cleanse the Emperor's court!

Purge the corrupt officials and cleanse the Emperor's court!

Purge the corrupt officials and cleanse the Emperor's court!

Purge the corrupt officials and cleanse the Emperor's court!

-These scholars. -Purge the corrupt officials!

-They shout nonstop all day. -Cleanse the Emperor's court!

Purge the corrupt officials and cleanse the Emperor's court!

–Purge the corrupt officials! -It's OK. Let's drink.

Young people

always carry lofty ideals.

Naturally, they tend to be a bit hot-blooded.

Yes, yes.

Look how magnanimous Commissioner Hu is.

I heard

the one leading them

is Zhou Pei'an, right?

He's even the top scholar in the provincial imperial exam here, right?

Yes.

Yes, yes.

What's so great about a top scholar in the provincial imperial exam?

Even the top scorer in the palace exam—

one comes along every three years.

Since the founding of our dynasty,

there have been nearly a hundred of them.

A mere Jieyuan

is nothing special.

-Yeah. -Yes.

How many truly prominent aristocratic families

are there in the realm?

Those students

will never amount to anything.

However much of a fuss they make,

could it possibly beat the uproar Shen Zhibai made back then?

Exactly.

That's right.

Even if he makes a huge fuss,

once he offends Commissioner Hu,

his whole family could be wiped out in an instant.

My Lords,

the two generals have arrived.

Who are these two generals?

Greetings, Commissioner Hu!

We've been waiting for you.

They're

Deputy Commander Wang and Deputy Commander Zhao.

They're renowned battle-hardened generals.

Exactly.

The right-hand men of the Marquis of Danyang.

Right, right.

Commissioner Hu,

you truly are blessed with good fortune.

You flatter me.

These two generals

are merely doing me the honor of coming.

No, no, My Lord.

We've long heard of your formidable reputation.

How could we not come?

Generals,

you've served under Li Shaoqun,

Marquis of Danyang,

for quite a long time now, right?

Now, as you can see,

he's shut himself away behind closed doors.

I believe

it's time for the two of you

to step forward.

Time to come out,

take a look around,

and make a choice.

Yes.

I heard that Li Shaoqun has

recently become quite the benevolent man,

wanting to use all the soldiers' rations

for disaster relief.

When Li Shaoqun is around,

he commands respect and keeps order.

But once he's gone,

with only that pampered

young son of his,

what could his son possibly accomplish?

When the time comes,

he won't be able to hold things together at all.

What could he accomplish?

Generals,

you'd better think carefully.

You two,

do you understand?

Generals,

what do you say?

We're willing to follow you, Commissioner Hu!

After the incident, I was brought back to the Xie Residence.

I heard it was Old Madam who intervened,

having Xie Shu persuade Hu Xing.

Returning to the Xie Residence,

I felt like a lost, wandering soul.

Then, by chance, I stumbled upon a shocking secret.

My Lady, dinner is ready!

[Lu Lingshu]

My Lady?

[Lu Lingshu]

[Zhongwu Hall]

Father.

Chunzhi.

Come here.

[Zhongwu Hall]

Sit.

[Zhongwu Hall]

Father.

Since Commander Shen passed away,

everything in Hengtang has fallen into disarray.

Father, do you have any plans

regarding this matter?

Chunzhi,

recently,

because of your marriage,

you haven't stepped out of the house at all—

you haven't even gone to the military camp.

I've been worried about you.

Yes.

It's my fault.

I'm sorry to have worried you, Father.

But Qingru and I...

I know.

You've always been thinking about

the Xie family's fourth daughter.

The moment you lifted the bridal veil,

your mother and I

could already see

the reproach in your eyes.

But what could be done?

That's simply fate.

Back then,

your mother and I were the same.

After the wedding,

we also had some bumps.

Your mother, in a fit of anger,

packed her belongings

and ran back to her parents' home.

I've never heard you speak of this before.

Chunzhi,

marriage is a bond

forged across 3 lifetimes,

a fate cultivated over 1,000 years.

You can't let a few harsh words in a moment of anger

sever that bond, right?

Later,

I took 2 jars of the finest aged wine

to your grandfather's house.

That very night, your grandfather and I drank deep into the night.

And then?

The very next day, your mother

came back home with me.

Though with conditions attached.

From that day forward,

your mother

made me promise not to strike back, not to talk back.

And I've kept to that,

haven't I?

Father, you're

giving me a gentle nudge.

A true man

stands tall and upright.

In this life...

the one who accompanies you until the end

is not your parents,

nor your children,

but your wife.

She's like a mirror,

reflecting your state of mind.

Qingru is a fine girl.

Once you've spent enough years together,

and you reach my age,

you'll understand—

what kind of wife she becomes

and what kind of mother she becomes

isn't just up to her,

but up to you.

I understand.

I understand, Father.

I'll certainly shoulder the responsibility.

Chunzhi,

in the blink of an eye,

you've grown up.

All grown up.

Yes.

Lately,

I've often heard some things about you.

They say

that you're kind-hearted

and have no ill intentions,

so it'll be hard for you to preserve

the future of our family.

So what?

You've already grown into the person I hoped you'd be.

Who cares what others say?

From now on...

whatever...

becomes of

this Marquis's household,

it shall have nothing to do with you.

You are simply you.

Just being yourself

is enough.