Original subtitles

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

What are you doing?

Chen Yan Yun, you're hiding state secrets.

That's no different from treason.

Do you think you can find something at the Ji Residence?

I've already had the files...

sent to the palace and given to His Majesty.

You're the one who chose to be a pawn and do whatever my teacher told you.

Now you've been abandoned.

Your future is ruined.

According to the Dayan Empire Code, if a child brings a case against his father,

the child must first take forty lashes no matter what the father's offense.

I just gave you forty lashes.

Not one more, not one less.

You sent for me to come to Tongzhou.

For that, I'll let you live.

I'll arrange for you to leave the capital.

From now on, we have nothing more to do with each other.

The nephew of a cabinet minister

is actually the son of a canal bandit.

Deceiving the Emperor...

At best, you will be stripped of your status.

At worst, you will be imprisoned and exiled.

And also,

committing murder.

Xuan Qing.

Chen Yi, hurry up. Go and get a physician.

Yes.

How are you feeling?

Don't bother.

You took poison? Spit it out.

♫ Who lies within the ripples, exchanging the warmth of their palms ♫

I never meant to kill you. Why did you do this?

♫ Setting the gears of fate in motion? ♫

Third Uncle, I've always looked up to you.

♫ Winter and spring exchange secrets ♫

Since I can remember,

I've tried to imitate you in everything.

I was too timid and couldn't make up my mind.

I fell for her.

But all I could think about was becoming just like you.

I thought I'd end up with everything like you did.

But now I realize. I'm nothing compared to you.

Now my career, my love, and my life are all ruined.

One wrong move, and everything goes wrong.

You don't need to save me anymore.

Xuan Qing.

Xuan Qing.

♫ I wait for snow in the empty courtyard ♫

♫ The snow-covered branches fall and become my white hair ♫

♫ The agreement between us is a promise ♫

♫ and also freedom ♫

♫ I am no longer a lone boat ♫

♫ Through all the turns, I've passed by thousands of mountains ♫

♫ Amidst the storm, I embark on a life-and-death journey ♫

♫ Drunk together in this dream ♫

♫ The bright moon hangs high with nowhere to hide ♫

♫ I broke free from the shackles, and stepped into this vortex ♫

♫ The war fires are reflected in our eyes ♫

♫ The wind will stop ♫

♫ Softly voicing how fortunate to have you in this life ♫

♫ In this moment, water and fire gently bear witness to us ♫

♫ We are immersed in the karma of this lifetime's reincarnation ♫

Why are you here?

Second Brother told me Xuan Qing...

is dead.

He came ready to die.

He had poison in his mouth.

Fu Hai Lian used Yun Ting to force him.

Where's Yun Ting?

He's dead, too.

Before I set off, Shuntian Prefecture sent someone to our home.

They said he fell into the water by accident and drowned.

I first saw Xuan Qing nine years ago.

He was.... so small and thin.

And he was really quiet.

His eyes looked exactly like his birth father's.

Mother...

wants to remove Xuan Qing's name from the family tree.

I want to know what you think.

You make the call on this.

Okay.

Grand Secretary, Chen Yan Yun's servant, Chen Yi, just came by.

He said Lord Chen has a message for you.

What message?

Chen Xuan Qing failed and took poison.

Grand Secretary, what does Chen Yan Yun mean by this?

Is he trying to threaten you?

He's trying to tell me that he's going to put all the blame on me.

He wouldn't dare!

What if we get some censors to make some noise about this?

After all, Chen Xuan Qing died at his hand.

Forget it.

Just to fight me,

Jiu Heng handed over all the case files to His Majesty

that he'd been hiding in the archives repository for ten years.

What a pledge of allegiance.

He finally won His Majesty's trust.

If I go after him now, I'll be offending His Majesty.

But His Majesty does whatever you say.

I don't want to hear that kind of talk in the future.

I can't fall out with His Majesty unless I really have to.

I'm sorry. I was out of line.

You know what?

His Majesty is no longer a child.

Quite a few people in the court are hoping he will take charge.

I've talked it over with Grandmother.

Except for Third Master and me,

our whole family will leave Tongzhou for a while

and move to Songjiang Prefecture.

But...

Wait! Move to Songjiang?

That's so far.

Exactly. Our family does have some business in Songjiang.

But the bulk is in the North.

If we all move to Songjiang,

we won't be able to look after the business in the North.

Mother, I can go back and forth.

You... You already knew?

You really are something.

Something this big, and you didn't say a word?

Enough. I trust Zhao Jie'er and Third Master.

We'll do as they say.

It's all my fault that you'll have to leave your hometown.

I hereby...

apologize to all of you.

Third Master, please don't say that.

I feel really ashamed if you say that.

Please sit down.

You should all know that the Ji family's success today

is all thanks to Third Master's help.

And now he wants us to go to Songjiang for our own good.

Yes, that's it.

We're all family, after all.

Aunt.

Uncle.

Third Master really feels sorry for our family.

Jin Zhao is right.

Ever since I hid those files at the Ji Residence,

I've been putting all of you in danger.

And because of the bad blood between the Grand Secretary and me,

the Ji family was nearly destroyed.

I'm still scared just thinking about it.

I'm afraid things will only get worse between the Grand Secretary and me.

So I can only ask Old Madam to take the family to Songjiang for a while.

I don't want to go.

Since the capital is dangerous.

If Eldest Sister stays, I'll stay, too.

Don't act like a child. Sit down.

Now, I'll only be able to have some peace of mind if you all go to Songjiang.

Since you've decided, why ask us?

Should I call you Lord Chen or brother-in-law?

I'll call you brother-in-law then.

I have a question for you.

If I take my sister to Songjiang with us, do you agree?

What's the point of asking him? You should be asking me.

I don't agree. Now you can ask your brother-in-law.

Can he be without me?

Now, without me, he can't get anything done.

I swear to all of you, I'll keep Jin Zhao safe.

If anything happens to her, I'll pay with my life.

Third Master, there's no need for that.

Ji Feng.

Old Madam.

Go and tell the servants to pack immediately.

Yes.

Now I look like the bad guy here.

Tell everyone it's time to leave.

Yes.

Zhao Jie'er, you and Third Master must be careful.

­

After escorting them to Jining, I'll come back to the capital to help you.

Second Brother.

I said yes to go to Songjiang just to put my mother at ease.

Don't try to talk me out of it.

I really can't leave you alone in the capital.

Third Master is still here with me.

That makes me even more worried.

Stop talking. That's final.

­

What's wrong?

Second Brother says he'll stay in the capital to help us.

Chen Yan Yun is totally immoral and his family life is a mess.

He doesn't deserve to hold office.

He abuses power and lives in debauchery.

He has no shame at all.

And on top of that,

he colludes with merchants, forms cliques, and keeps you in the dark.

Your Majesty, I beg you to thoroughly investigate Chen Yan Yun's wrongdoings.

Third Master.

Third Master!

Chen Yan Yun.

Chen Yan Yun, please don't die.

I won't die. I won't.

I'm here. Always here.

It's okay now.

How come we're at Baoxiang Temple?

You're awake?

Put me down. I can walk on my own.

Don't move. I want to carry you.

But this is a temple.

Surely the Buddha would be happy to see loving couples.

That's more like it, Jin Zhao.

You should smile like this more often.

As long as we're all good, I'll be happy every day.

I'm sorry, Jin Zhao.

Why the sudden apology?

Your family thinks the world of you.

I'm nowhere near as good as they are.

All those worries you had before we got married were spot on.

Are you saying I should bring out the divorce agreement and leave?

That won't do.

Without you, I can't get anything done.

Stop it.

All right.

If we could do it all over again, would you still marry me?

I'd do it earlier.

We're here.

Benefactor Chen, an important guest has arrived.

Okay.

I'll be right back.

Don't catch a cold.

Please follow me, Benefactor.

The Northern tribes' second prince killed his big brother and seized the throne.

Rioting soldiers stormed the market at Shicheng

and injured many Dayan people.

Every urgent report from the front says the border is about to fall into chaos.

But Fu Hai Lian's not worried at all.

It's been days, and he still hasn't come up with a plan.

He said everything was under control and told me not to be anxious.

I think he's long been colluding with the Northern tribes.

He's so set on cutting military spending and reducing the border troops

because he wants to throw the frontier into chaos.

That would force me to rely on him again, and that's how he keeps his power.

Your Majesty, that makes sense.

But there's no proof to support it.

He's so awful to you, and you're still defending him?

I'm not defending him.

The point is, he's the head of Dayan's civil officials.

If we convict him without solid evidence,

it'll cause chaos and even bring down the whole country.

Then look into it.

I'll send envoys to the border,

using the excuse of celebrating the second prince's coronation,

so they can get to the bottom of what's really going on.

What do you think, Lord Chen?

Your Majesty, that's a great idea.

Even Teacher couldn't say a word against it.

But I don't know who to send.

After all, there are really very few people I can trust.

Your Majesty, Lord Chen is not the right choice.

Why not?

Because I'll go.

You?

You're not qualified.

I'm the Heir Apparent of Marquis Changxing and Commander of the Mystic Flame Guard.

I'm more qualified than you.

Don't forget. You don't even hold an official post right now.

That's exactly the reason His Majesty can send me.

The ones with official positions don't dare to go.

And those with nerve don't have what it takes.

Your Majesty, I know what you mean.

Just please allow me to go back and discuss it with my wife.

What? Can't you make the call yourself

on a matter this important to the country?

This is a good chance for your return.

I can make the call myself.

But because of me, the Ji family was almost destroyed.

I've already failed Jin Zhao.

Let's be honest. We both know what caused the border trouble.

Going as an envoy to the Northern tribes will be very dangerous.

I need to explain this to my wife.

Okay. Then ask Gu Jin Zhao to come in.

You don't have to explain. I'll talk to her.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It's fine that you asked His Majesty

to ensure the Ji family's safety and keep them out of it.

But you also said you wanted those three hundred arquebuses?

You know what? This type of new arquebuses, (small-caliber long guns)

only the Weapons Bureau

has three hundred of them.

Marquis Jingyuan and Count Wuqing have wanted them for ages.

But neither has managed to get even one.

So you can't be the one to bring this up.

Only an ignorant woman like me can dare to ask for the moon.

When the time comes, remember to take all those arquebuses with you.

You're right. If it weren't for you,

I'd have lost out again.

Lost out?

How could that be?

Don't think I don't know.

You've been looking forward to this trip.

All the Chunyuan remnants are there.

You're in a hurry to gather evidence against the Grand Secretary.

Yes, I want to find evidence of Teacher's crimes.

But actually, I hope even more that I don't find any.

I know. You've always cared a lot about your relationship with him.

But he doesn't think that way.

If you go to the Northern tribes as an envoy,

he'll definitely have a trap laid out there for you.

Maybe you should go back and pray again.

For something this important, I'd rather put my trust in you

and myself than in any kind of divine help.

Teacher, I'll take my leave.

The road ahead is hard and far.

Jiu Heng, be very careful.

I don't know when we'll see each other again after this.

So I have a question for you.

Do you still remember when Brother Feng Ming and I

came to your home after the spring exam?

I don't remember.

Of course. You weren't at home that day.

But Brother Feng Ming and I didn't know that.

After breakfast, we went to your house.

We waited for six hours before being taken to the side hall.

We still didn't get to see you in the end.

They just gave us a policy question.

It kind of rings a bell.

After I finished the question and returned home,

the moon was already high in the sky.

I slept for less than four hours before my mother woke me up.

She said you sent an invitation and told me,

to go see you again early the next morning.

I still remember what you said to me when I first saw you.

You said, "Chen Yan Yun, you should have failed the exam."

I said that?

You also said you flunked me because the essay...

I wrote in the spring exam was too correct.

Not too good, but too correct.

At that time, you were focused on promoting the new policies.

But supporters were few.

It just so happened that my essay said exactly what you were thinking.

So you felt I was either too smart,

or just really good at reading people.

And you've never liked that kind of person.

Even now, I still don't like that type.

Do you still remember...

the policy question you had just for me?

That question was about the rise and fall of reforms

and the successes and failures of new policies.

I wrote five full pages.

Finally, you said the essay was great and all,

but what really mattered was nothing more than one sentence.

For the people's benefit, take no account of gain or loss.

From that day on...

those words have been stuck in my head and in my heart.

What exactly are you trying to say?

Teacher,

Brother Feng Ming is already dead.

In those days,

we were willing to give our lives for the new laws,

for land equalization, and for you.

But now?

Everything has changed.

Teacher, you guided me and helped me.

I'm deeply grateful and can never repay it.

Teacher and I have seen eye-to-eye from the beginning till the end.

He's already far away.

You still can't bring yourself to leave?

I just want to be alone for a while.

You don't need to worry about him.

He knew that on this trip to the North, Fu Hai Lian would definitely move against him.

So he made a big show of breaking with him in front of all the officials.

That way, if Fu Hai Lian tries any tricks at the border,

it'll seem like he's acting out of spite.

Your husband is a sly one.

He knows how to protect himself.

Thank you.

For what?

For comforting me.

I'm not comforting you.

Leave us.

I heard that before the envoy group left,

Third Master Chen scolded you in public and cut ties with you.

He did it on purpose.

Quite a clever move.

But so what?

No matter how many tricks he plays, he's not coming back.

Everything set?

Good.

Good.

Back then, I was afraid he'd follow the clues

and find out about the Chunyuan followers,

so... I wanted him dead.

What a pity.

Honestly, I really considered... making him my successor.

What a pity.

I'm going to Xi Mountain tomorrow.

There's no one to look after Baopu.

So I'll leave him to you.

Okay. I didn't expect you to have grown so fat.

Thanks.

Why the thanks?

I've got some business. I need to head back to the government office.

Hey. Didn't we agree on this?

I told you to stay with Gu Jin Zhao for a few days.

You're backing out again.

I was the one who looked after you before.

And I raised you for so long.

A few days with Ye Xian, and you've turned into this?

What an ungrateful bad cat.

Hey! What did you say?

How could you say that to a cat?

Madam.

Commander Ye.

We just received a secret report.

The envoy group was attacked in Shicheng.

Except for two who returned to the capital,

everyone else disappeared without a trace overnight.

Then... what about him?

Third Master...

is also missing.

Gu Jin Zhao!

I'm fine.

We saw this coming.

Do you still remember the names of those two?

Yes, I do.

Lin Ru Hui and Zhou Chu Dong from the Censorate.

I know those two.

They are both Fu Hai Lian's men.

Looks like Fu Hai Lian's next move

is to go after the entire Chen family.

Logically speaking, Third Master is the victim of the attack on the envoys.

But if Fu Hai Lian wants to deal with the Chen family,

he'll have to pin the blame on Third Master.

I see it now.

I want to see His Majesty.

Okay. I'll set it up.

Dry weather!

Watch your candles!

Dry weather!

Watch your candles!

If you hadn't come to me, I'd have come to you.

Two censors escaped from Shicheng.

They brought back a letter

written by the second prince of the Northern tribes to Lord Chen.

It shows Lord Chen colluded with them,

and was behind the attack on the envoy group.

The court wants

to put the whole Chen family in jail for a full investigation.

Your Majesty, Jiu Heng is innocent.

Of course I know that.

I got word from my contact.

After the envoy group was attacked, Lord Chen had a chance to escape.

Brother Liang, I'm entrusting the envoy group to you.

Shicheng is surrounded by mountains.

After you guys escape, find a place to hide, and make sure

both the court and the Northern tribes think the whole envoy group is gone.

That'll keep the risk down.

Chen Yi, you stay and continue protecting Lord Liang.

Yes, Third Master.

But after that, no more news came.

No news is better than bad news.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for telling me this.

Now...

that letter from the second prince is what's really tricky.

Subject Chen is missing.

He doesn't even have a chance to defend himself.

Your Majesty, I have a way...

to prove that Jiu Heng would never betray the country.

What's this?

Last year, Jiu Heng told me

that you ordered the Weapons Bureau to make cannons,

but it didn't work out.

So he had me send people to buy some in Haojing.

Also, you gave me three hundred arquebuses before Jiu Heng left on his mission.

Now I'll donate all of them to you.

One hundred small Franki cannons, (European cannons)

fifty large Franki cannons,

ten Dafagong cannons, (large caliber cannons)

and ten cannon makers.

Lord Chen had someone buy all these in Haojing

earlier this year and presented them to me.

If he's really in cahoots with the Northern tribes,

why would he go to all this trouble and offer me these cannons?

Wouldn't he have given them to that second prince?

I think the people we need

to investigate thoroughly are not the Chen family,

but the two censors who came back in one piece

after the whole envoy group went missing.

Third Sister-in-Law, are you really going to the border to look for Third Brother?

The court can't be relied on.

Besides, I sent Qing Pu there long ago, and there's been no word at all.

I won't feel right unless I go myself.

Don't worry about me.

I've got business connections and people in Pingyang Prefecture.

I'll be fine.

You must be careful.

Mother heard the news and became bedridden.

She just insisted on coming over.

I barely managed to stop her.

Are you really going?

Second Sister-in-Law, these are the lands

Third Master purchased over the years.

No matter what happens to the Chen family,

they will ensure every one of you will never go hungry or lack clothing.

I see. But let's be clear.

I'm only keeping them for you temporarily.

When you come back, I'll return them to you.

Watch yourself on the road. Got it?

I will. Thank you, Second Sister-in-Law.

I know you want to find Third Brother.

But don't forget to take care of yourself.

Same to you. Take care of yourself and Mother.

I'll skip saying goodbye to her.

Okay.

Eldest Sister... please stay safe.

Take care.

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 ♫