Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by ❀ The Good and The Beauty Team ⚔ @Viki.com

Jiu Heng dares to oppose me?

To put it bluntly,

he's backed by His Majesty.

The Li family finally has a decent emperor,

but he's too eager

to rule personally.

He has no idea that a court in disarray

is no place for a callow child.

Grand Secretary, in my humble opinion,

understandably, His Majesty is too young

to appreciate your painstaking efforts,

but Chen Yan Yun shouldn't be

ungrateful for your years of cultivation.

You entrusted His Majesty to his care.

But who knew he'd end up leading...

His Majesty astray?

I have the power to cultivate him.

That also means I have the power to...

Ke Qian is here. Quick.

Brew my best tea for him.

Yes.

Thank you, Elder Xuan.

I'm here to report something interesting.

What's this?

This is an Imperial Academy lecturer candidate list.

Let me see. Anything wrong?

All is well,

except a missing name.

Who?

Chen Xuan Qing.

He really isn't on here.

I looked into it.

Guess what?

He was relegated.

Relegated?

To Anqing Prefecture,

as requested by Jiu Heng personally.

As everyone knows,

Chen Xuan Qing is Jiu Heng's adopted nephew,

a gifted scholar.

So Jiu Heng placed high hopes on him.

He became a Third Place Scholar in the spring exam,

then entered the Imperial Academy,

and soon afterwards served as an envoy to the North.

He had a promising future.

He clearly had a good path paved for him.

He was brought up to be Jiu Heng's successor.

But now he's been relegated to Anqing.

There's probably a rift between them,

and it must be a rather...

significant one.

Interesting.

As you said, I took my men to the North,

and found the traces of Chunyuan remnants.

How many?

A dozen at first.

The more I investigated, the more I found.

The handprints you showed me were really helpful.

Without them, I wouldn't have found any.

What do they do there?

The poor are servants,

while the rich are teachers and merchants.

They're in all walks of life.

Any leads on the leader?

Third Master.

We're family; no need for such formality.

Have a seat.

Go on.

I've inquired about their leader.

He's said to be rather mysterious,

and has never been seen by anyone.

But I got an important clue

that when Prince Chengqing's rebellion failed,

the Chunyuan followers were able to flee

from the capital to the North, because of a patron.

Who?

She was called Madam Weirui.

Madam Weirui?

I never heard of her either.

Miss.

Miss, it's a letter from Miss Xue.

Qing Lan asks to meet us.

Sorry for the late visit. I'll cut to the chase.

What have you found about the Chunyuan Cult?

Haven't you been investigating with Ye Xian?

Why not ask him?

I did, but he wouldn't say.

I have my reasons for investigating the Chunyuan Cult.

Don't worry.

I'll neither tell anyone nor harm you.

In fact, we have a shared goal.

If I'm not mistaken,

you want to know about the Chunyuan Cult,

because of your late mother.

I heard that

over a decade ago,

a Chunyuan follower killed her.

What are you doing?

It's a secret.

How did you know?

As a cabinet minister,

I certainly know

more than others do.

Why else would I feel at ease

leaving you by Ye Xian's side.

Qing Lan.

As I expected,

you hide your abilities.

It's true.

I'm inquiring about this because of my mother.

Back then, the Chunyuan Cult helped Prince Chengqing rebel,

and was dominant in the capital.

Many officials and their families were assassinated,

including my mother.

She drank poisoned tea

and died.

So have you found any clues?

If I had, would I need to ask you?

But I know

only someone close to her could've poisoned her.

It sounds like

you already have a suspect.

You must know more than I do.

Tell me.

Who's the backer of the Chunyuan Cult?

It's just a speculation. We have no proof.

Wang Xuan Fan and his wife died suddenly.

That day,

Zhao Jie'er, Ye Xian, and I saw their bodies together.

So you suspect the backer of the Chunyuan Cult...

is my uncle?

As I said,

it's just speculation. There's no proof yet.

Fine,

I see.

Thank you for telling me this.

I owe you a favor.

No need for a favor.

What do you mean?

You're my teacher's niece,

the Xue family's beloved daughter,

but more importantly, a citizen of the Dayan Empire.

I just hope that one day,

when confronting cardinal issues of right and wrong,

you can make a wise choice.

The clown looks familiar.

I might have seen him somewhere.

You may not know this,

but he's Third Master Chen's nephew,

Chen Xuan Qing.

♫ I'll escape home ♫

♫ One year, two years ♫

♫ Growing my hair ♫

Grand Secretary.

I heard a few lines when you performed.

You performed well,

and you looked the part.

You delivered such a performance after a single try.

Very clever.

I'm flattered.

If you don't want to be relegated,

you should talk to your uncle.

Why did you come to me instead?

I begged him, but he refused resolutely.

Why?

Maybe...

I was too conspicuous,

which annoyed him.

Besides, I'm not his blood relative,

but just adopted.

You want to stay in the capital?

Yes.

Are you aware that the teacher-student bond

between your uncle and me has come to an end?

I am.

That's why I dared to come and meet you.

I may not be talented, but I am loyal.

I'm willing to be at your service.

Good.

Miss Wan Xue,

you really should stop drinking.

What should I do?

- Miss. - How is she?

This is her second pot.

I can't stop her.

She starts crying if I tell her to stop.

Stop drinking.

Why are you torturing yourself like this?

You're well aware that Chen Xuan Qing is not a good match for you.

Canceling your betrothal is for your own good.

I told you to stop!

Give it to me.

Give it to me!

Zi Ling,

tell the coachman to take the carriage to the postern.

Yes, Miss.

I'll take you back.

I'm not going back.

- Let's go. - I'm not going back!

Go.

- I'm not going back! - Careful.

- I'm not going back! - Get in.

I'm not going, no...

Brother Xuan Qing.

- Brother Xuan Qing! - Where are you going?

Brother Xuan Qing!

Brother Xuan Qing, I'm Wan Xue.

Brother Xuan Qing!

Xu Ruo?

Brother Xuan Qing! Brother Xuan Qing, don't leave!

Brother Xuan Qing!

Xu Ruo.

Xu Ruo, don't go!

Brother Xuan Qing!

Brother Xuan Qing!

Stop shouting. He doesn't want to see you.

Neither do we want to see him.

Help me take her home.

Brother Xuan Qing...

- Come, don't look. - Brother Xuan Qing!

- Wan Xue. - Careful.

Don't leave.

Let's conclude today's regular court session.

Your Majesty, are you heading for Wenhua Hall?

Yes.

At today's imperial lecture,

the lecturers will view my study progress.

So I'm quite nervous now.

I haven't paid much attention to your studies lately.

Why not summon the lecturers and tutors

to Huangji Hall

and let our fellows attend?

Lord Fu, do you want to test the lecturers for me

and temper their sharpness?

Zhang Fang.

Bring the lecturers to Huangji Hall.

As you command.

The lecturers have arrived.

Chen Xuan Qing, Chu Jun Liang, Li Ru Fei,

prostrate ourselves before Your Majesty.

Long live Your Majesty.

- You may rise. - Thank you, Your Majesty.

Chen Xuan Qing, it's you?

Your Majesty,

with Lecturer Liu on sick leave,

Grand Scholar Wu asked me to come in his place.

Very well, very well.

Last time we met,

you had just returned from the North.

Over half a year has passed in a flash.

Lord Chen, you look even more charming.

Let's start from you then.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Today, I...

Impeach?

My uncle?

What?

Impeach him for what?

For his immorality, family discord,

stealing your wife regardless of human ethics.

Where...

Where...

Where did you hear this?

There's no such thing.

Yun Ting?

Why are you here?

Didn't you return to the Chen Residence?

Why are you here instead?

I didn't return there.

I was...

Young Master, I failed you.

I failed you.

They forced me,

so I had to say.

I was terrified.

What did you say?

I told them about Nanny Wang,

and about your relationship with Third Madam.

I failed you.

I didn't expect a distinguished Third Place Scholar

would have the guts to commit homicide.

That's impressive.

What a pity.

Over a decade with Jiu Heng,

I've never seen him infatuated with a woman.

How unexpected.

No wonder they say

a neighbor's meal is always better.

And a nephew's meal is even better.

Chen Xuan Qing,

His Majesty is asking you.

Yes.

I wonder what you're going to teach me.

Your Majesty,

before my lecture, I'd like to impeach someone.

Who would you like to impeach?

I'd like to impeach my uncle,

Great Scholar of Jianji Hall, Cabinet Minister...

Chen Yan Yun.

The drink menu must be verified daily.

Right.

Also, mark our regular customers' bill dates in red.

Okay, understood.

Sister.

Madam.

Mr. Jiang, you...

Bad news.

In the 34th year of Jingning,

I met Gu Jin Zhao at her coming-of-age ceremony.

She fell into the water, and I saved her.

That's how our affection started.

But to curry favor with Chen Yan Yun,

the Ji family offered her to him in the capital.

Knowing the affection between us,

he threatened to fail me in the spring exam,

and then forced me into the betrothal to the Yu family.

Later, when I served as an envoy to the North,

he forced Gu Jin Zhao to marry him.

Nonsense! He's not that kind of man.

I have a letter from Gu Jin Zhao as evidence.

It was written in her own hand.

When I was forcibly betrothed to the Yu family,

I had to return it.

I have only one page as a keepsake.

But it's enough to prove

that we privately pledged to marry...

before Chen Yan Yun forced her to marry him.

I swear if I'm lying, I will die a miserable death!

You...

Today is supposed to be an Imperial Lecture,

why are you mentioning officials' family issues?

- You... - Your Majesty.

May I say a few words?

Please speak.

I remember when Jiu Heng married Miss Gu,

he had a dispute with Ye Xian.

Ye Xian tried to assassinate Chen Jiu Heng on the street, and they came to blows.

Back then, I warned him...

of the importance of self-cultivation and family harmony.

Yet now, he's fighting against his nephew for a woman.

This really confuses me.

Chen Xuan Qing was cultivated by Chen Jiu Heng...

and was credited as a Third Place Scholar by the late Emperor.

By leaving aside his grace and prospects

and speaking indignantly here,

Xuan Qing must be clearly at his wit's end.

For his family discord and immorality,

Chen Jiu Heng is an unworthy official.

As his teacher, I am not forgivable either.

Your Majesty, please punish me.

For his immorality, Chen Yan Yun is an unworthy official.

Your Majesty, please punish him.

Your Majesty, please punish him.

Well...

Grand Secretary, lest I refuse to admit the guilt,

you spoke on my behalf?

Your Majesty, I have a question.

As far as I know, Chen Xuan Qing was dismissed

from the Imperial Academy a month ago.

How could he replace the lecturer and enter the palace today?

Who assigned him, under what title,

and what's the intention of the backer?

Lord Chen, no need for insinuations.

It's me who let him in.

Your Majesty, a few days ago,

Chen Xuan Qing came to me and told me all his grievances.

I cherish his talent of being a Third Place Scholar.

He was supposed to serve the state.

Yet due to this trifle, he suffered suppression.

I asked him if he dared to face a confrontation in court.

He said yes.

So I decided to give him a chance to speak in the palace.

Teacher, you're truly righteous.

But, Grand Secretary, this act has violated the court laws.

Don't try to deflect.

You must know that laws cannot ignore human feelings.

"Laws cannot ignore human feelings." Well said.

Chen Xuan Qing, you're no longer a six-year-old child.

You should know the consequences of this act.

Are you threatening him?

Subject Chen, if you have a defense, just speak your mind.

Your Majesty, I have something to ask Chen Xuan Qing.

Go ahead.

Xuan Qing, are you impeaching me here today

willingly or under pressure?

Grand Secretary.

Grand Secretary! Grand Secretary

It's not that I'm unwilling, but rather that...

If I step forward and impeach my uncle,

even if I succeed, my prospects will be ruined.

Please forgive my failure to obey.

After committing homicide, you're still considering your prospects?

Moreover...

A Third Place Scholar, a cabinet minister's nephew,

turns out to be a canal bandit's son.

How amazing.

I'm doing this willingly, under no pressure.

Do you have a clear conscience?

A canal bandit's son faked his status in the imperial exam

and was credited as a Third Place Scholar.

Simply by deceiving the Emperor,

you'll be at best deprived of the title,

and at worst imprisoned or exiled.

As for homicide...

Yes.

All I said is true.

You forced my hand.

Are you sure you truly won't regret this?

You've already played a clown.

What else are you afraid of?

Instead of being crushed in obscurity,

you should take a chance and be remembered

by His Majesty and the officials.

I won't regret it.

Good.

Very good.

Your Majesty, I've finished my questioning.

I... have no defense.

Chen Xuan Qing ignored my kindness and our family reputation,

and is here talking nonsense, deceiving Your Majesty.

Yet I must consider my wife and family.

As for Chen Xuan Qing's impeachment,

I'm not a rustic who makes empty oaths.

I can only say that justice will prevail.

This... This is simply absurd!

Court is adjourned.

Subject Chen, follow me. I'll ask you what is going on exactly.

How satisfying!

How satisfying!

Today, before His Majesty and all the officials at court,

I, Chen Xuan Qing, exposed you,

Chen Yan Yun, a hypocrite.

What do I fear?

I have nothing to fear.

Now the Grand Secretary sides with me.

Is there anything I have to fear?

Chen Yan Yun, you can only blame yourself

for your immorality and for bullying me.

Now with the Grand Secretary as my patron, I'll be promoted quickly.

By contrast, you'll have a ruined reputation and a hopeless future.

You'll be at my mercy.

Who is it?

Lord Chen, it's time to depart.

He naturally has no defense.

A cabinet minister was impeached by his nephew for stealing his wife...

Whether it's true or not, once it spreads,

it'll disgrace the court and His Majesty.

Even if His Majesty wants to protect him,

it's simply not feasible.

You're right, Madam.

It's a pity for Gu Jin Zhao.

She's so clever, but she just had to marry Jiu Heng.

Madam, Miss Lan is here.

Lan'er?

She has been following Ye Xian around lately.

Now she remembers to visit me.

Chen Xuan Qing sought refuge with the Grand Secretary to ruin Third Master.

Once the Grand Secretary finds out

about the Judicial Office files hidden in the Ji Residence, it'll be real trouble.

Where did you get the information?

Ye Xian was ordered to go to Xuan Prefecture and investigate the Chunyuan remnants.

I followed him. Later, we acted separately.

As a result, I discovered some Chunyuan followers.

One of them claimed that before the Prince Chengqing rebellion,

he saw my uncle and you at a gathering.

How's that possible? They must be talking nonsense.

But his account is too vivid to tell if it's true or false.

Of course it's false.

What do you plan to do?

Nothing, of course.

I've handled him. I can't let them slander you.

What about Ye Xian?

He doesn't know.

Qing Lan, you did well.

It shows that my favor to you was not in vain.

Though it's clearly a frame-up,

the less trouble, the better.

Exactly.

But that person so daringly slandered you.

Someone must have instigated him.

Maybe it's an influential figure of the Chunyuan Cult.

Aunt, rest assured.

I've privately ordered a thorough investigation.

By following the clues, we'll allow the backer nowhere to hide.

It's fine to investigate, but don't make a big fuss about it.

After all, it involves the Chunyuan remnants.

If word spreads, it'll do your uncle no good.

If you find any clues, report to me promptly.

You're right, Aunt. I'll be careful.

Get out! All of you, get out!

Subject Chen, I wasn't dazed by all that.

No, I was.

Considering Chen Xuan Qing is your nephew, I gave him a chance to speak.

I had no idea the rebel would backstab you.

I failed you.

Your Majesty's words make me feel ashamed.

It's my fault for not disciplining my family.

Though I didn't expect Teacher to use Chen Xuan Qing against me,

everything is still within my control.

Indeed. Whether with Chen Xuan Qing or Wang Xuan Fan,

Teacher Fu is sure to suppress you and dominate the court.

Whether it's disbanding border troops or reducing provisions, he'll have the final say.

You predicted all of this.

Tell me. If he really colludes with the Northerners, will he commit treason?

What if...

What if they invade us?

Not likely.

How can you be so sure?

Your Majesty, it's all speculation for now.

We only have two urgent issues to address.

First, thoroughly investigate the Chunyuan remnants active in the Dayan Empire.

Second, secretly win over military nobles, just in case.

Both of these things need to be kept a secret from Teacher.

Fine. I'll write to Marquis Jingyuan and the others right away.

Your Majesty, no need to be so tense.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Since I'm under sentence, Teacher may relax his vigilance,

which makes it easier for me to act.

Therefore, you only need to act accordingly.

Leave the rest to me.

Good. Subject Chen, I'm always at ease with you around.

Thank you, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now.

My Lord, the whole Ji family, young and old, is here.

Release them, or I'll kill you!

You think I fear death?

You're a lunatic!

Yes, I'm a lunatic.

So long as the dignified Minister Chen Yan Yun

bows or kneels to beg for my mercy,

so what if I'm a lunatic?

So what if I die?

He should be here soon.

Take them all to Supreme Court.

Zhao Jie'er!

When Chen Yan Yun is here, tell him to kneel and beg me.

I might just spare the Ji family.

In your dreams!

Third Master.

My Lord, I'm just following orders.

Third Master!

You ungrateful rascal.

Quick, save Grandmother!

Are you all right?

It's just a superficial wound.

Zhao Jie'er, are you all right?

I'm fine.

Chen Xuan Qing, I never imagined you would be so utterly depraved.

You're not even human.

Chen Yan Yun, I know what you‘re hiding in the Ji Residence.

Once my men find them, you'll all die.

Really?

Yes.

Unless...

you kneel and beg me.

Kneel and beg you?

Yes.

Chen Yan Yun, you never expected this day, did you?

You fool. That's why I relegated you.

You know nothing about the court at all.

Let go!

Let go! Let go of me!

Let go of me! Let go!

What are you doing?

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by ❀ The Good and The Beauty Team ⚔ @Viki.com

­

"Starry Night" - Zhou Shen

♫ I once held a brush to paint the seasons ♫

♫ But I fell into the chasm of time ♫

♫ Every shade of light and dark became a bitter wine ♫

♫ Every inch of longing turned to sorrow ♫

♫ I've seen through the sunrise and sunset ♫

♫ I can only lament that light and shadow can not coexist ♫

♫ A single mistake cast old friends away like drifting seagulls ♫

♫ With each step we drift further, then one glance back ♫

♫ The heart's burdens turn to rust ♫

♫ I send you on a thousand-mile trip under the Milky Way ♫

♫ A single thought, ceaseless and unyielding ♫

♫ You have a cherished companion to share your days ♫

♫ I, alone with my shadow, drift through the twilight hours ♫

♫ Memories of the past fill up every wrinkle of time ♫

♫ With each step we drift further, then one glance back ♫

♫ The heart's burdens turn to rust ♫

♫ I send you on a thousand-mile trip under the Milky Way ♫

♫ A single thought, ceaseless and unyielding ♫

♫ You have a cherished companion to share your days ♫

♫ I, alone with my shadow, drift through the twilight hours ♫

♫ Memories of the past fill up every wrinkle of time ♫

♫ Memories of the past fill up every wrinkle of time ♫