Original subtitles

(Guardians of the Dafeng)

(Episode 3)

Do no evil in the middle of the night!

Fear not the Night Guardians in broad daylight.

The Night Guardians are here.

You guys better surrender!

Attack!

The Night Guardians of Dafeng.

Take him away!

The Flying Tigers of Dafeng.

What Flying Tigers?

Well done. But don't do it again.

- Lord Li. - Lord Li.

Lord Li, you are finally here.

I'm the chief secretary of Changle County, Xu Jiu Zhi.

I have a case that I need you to help me with.

(Changle County Case)

Song Ting Feng, Zhu Guang Xiao.

- Yes, Lord Li. - Depart to Changle now.

Master.

Have they been arrested?

Yes. We've just received the news.

Both Zhang Xian

and the supervisor, Lord Xu, have been taken away.

Jiu Zhi.

I never thought that you would be able to convince the Night Guardians.

You are too kind.

It's all thanks to Xu Qi An's case analysis

and the confession from the guilty woman, Mrs. Zhang.

Good.

Xu Qi An.

Very good.

He has talents.

Why didn't we realize that in the past?

Master, it's not too late to realize that now.

Yes. It's not too late.

Do no evil in the middle of the night!

Fear not the Night Guardians in broad daylight.

Do no evil in the middle of the night!

Fear not the Night Guardians in broad daylight.

Enough. Stop practicing.

If you continue, you'll break all of our plates.

But this training is effective.

Look. I can catch the plate without any problem now.

I understand how you feel.

Everyone wants to join the Night Guardians.

Becoming a Night Guardian

has always been my dream.

But you need someone's recommendation if you want to join them.

Plus, you need to go through tests after tests.

Back then, I spent a few hundred taels of silver to take the tests.

What happened in the end?

In the end, I was deceived by a scammer.

Listen to me.

You should just work

as a constable at the magistrate court.

They are the Night Guardians.

And I'm just an employee.

No. I need to come up with a solution.

Ning Yan.

Ning Yan.

Why have you just arrived?

I have a piece of good news.

Our magistrate is going to reward you handsomely.

Boss, what is the meaning of this?

These are your rewards.

Close the door.

What's going on?

This is the magistrate's order.

We will do everything we can

to create the best environment for you to earn merits.

From today onward,

Ning Yan is an important member who will be under our care.

No one will disturb you.

Just tell me if you need anything.

I'll make sure you have everything you need.

Just focus all your energy

into solving those cases, okay?

I'm sorry.

I need a company.

Can you let Bo keep me company?

Open the door.

Why are you standing there? Find some locks

to lock up all the doors and windows. Quick.

Bo.

Dafeng is not worth it.

Father.

It has been a few days. Why hasn't Ning Yan returned?

I'll go to the magistrate court later.

They can't treat their employee like this.

He's a big man.

He should be trained as he should be.

He's not a child anymore.

No need to worry about him. He'll be fine.

What happened?

What's wrong?

Who bullied you?

What happened?

No. Don't cry.

I can't bear it.

What's wrong? What happened?

Who bullied you?

Forget it.

I don't want to eat anymore.

I'll be resting in my room.

Go on. Go and take a rest.

Oh, right.

Ning Yan, I'll call you when I go to the magistrate later.

Call me?

Don't call me ever again.

Don't call me even if God is here!

Ning Yan.

Second Uncle.

Hurry up and get him away from me.

- Wang. Long time no see. - Xu, how have you been?

Ning Yan, how is it?

Have you rested well?

Rest?

I haven't even reached my bed yet. How can I rest?

- Yes. - The capable ones are always busy.

The capable ones are always busy.

Don't worry.

I've told the magistrate.

From today onward, you don't have to go to the yamen anymore.

- Really? - Yes.

You can work on all the cases at home. How convenient.

I've brought all the case files here. Come.

Second Uncle!

No. Wait.

Wang, this is not appropriate.

How can he do his official work at home?

Xu.

Don't you know?

You can get money

by working from home.

This is not right. He's my nephew.

Fine.

Okay then.

Come on. Bring those files in for Constable Wang.

Over here.

What files?

Hurry up and move them to the side courtyard.

Over here. The side courtyard is over here.

This way, please. This way.

This way.

Be careful.

Constable Wang.

Thank you.

Yes. Turn right.

When you are done, let's have some tea together.

Ning Yan.

Your family

is amazing.

Dafeng

is not worth it.

I'll leave these to you.

Wang.

Does my nephew really have a knack for solving cases?

Of course.

The magistrate has said this.

If Ning Yan

can go through these case files properly during this period

and earn more merits

for the magistrate court during the inspection period,

he'll promote him

and give him a title in the future.

Now, this is good enough.

My nephew is a ninth-rank warrior.

What if he escapes?

You are too careless.

Yes.

Won't this be

to much?

This is nothing.

He's young and strong.

A little bit of hardship is nothing.

Moreover, if he doesn't make good use of such a good opportunity,

he'll regret it in the future.

You are indeed far-sighted. You have my admiration.

You are too kind.

- I'm just doing this for my nephew's future. - Yes.

It has nothing to do with what we talked about just now.

That's right.

Ning Yan.

Study those files carefully in your room.

Don't let me down.

Don't worry. No one will disturb you.

If you need anything,

I'll get them for you from time to time.

Just stay in your room

and focus

on going through the case files.

Okay.

Let's go.

Let's drink.

(It's the 11th of March today.)

(I went through the case files the whole night again.)

(If this continues, )

(I'll become a corporate slave once again.)

(No. I can't passively wait for my doom.)

(First step, )

(escape from the prison.)

(First step, escape from the prison)

Go back.

(I never thought that my second uncle would side with the enemy.)

(But it's okay.)

(He can't keep an eye on me 24/7.)

(I'm too naive.)

(My second uncle)

(will do anything for money.)

Do not leave until Constable Wang

has come back.

(Okay. I got it.)

(Constable Wang is the key to this issue.)

Let's drink. Let's go.

Ning Yan, why are you sleeping here?

Cover yourself up. Don't catch a cold.

(After I gradually earned Constable Wang's trust, )

(I managed to make him lower his guard against me.)

(Okay.)

(I'm going to proceed with the second step of my plan.)

(Act pitiful.)

I don't want to live anymore!

Give me a break!

Just end me!

Let me die!

Let me die.

(As expected, )

(his heart has softened for me.)

(He wants to bring me out to relax.)

Let's go to the theater.

(I'm a good man.)

(How can he bring me to a place like this?)

(It doesn't match my charisma.)

- No. - Ning Yan, you are like a block of wood.

Relax.

Here, sir. Let's drink to our heart's content.

Thank you.

(I will restrain myself.)

(On the 13th of March, )

(Constable Wang took me to the theater again.)

(Maybe he thought I would appreciate it)

(and be grateful to him.)

(It's just KTV.)

(I know all about the traps of capitalism.)

(Don't even think about trying to numb me.)

(But it's a workplace social event.)

(I have no choice.)

(14th of March, Listening to the Songs)

(I have to mention that I found some money on the floor again.)

(I found money every day.)

(Isn't it too frequent?)

(15th of March, Listening to the Songs)

(And I found more and more money.)

(It's faster than earning money through business.)

Ning Yan, go through the files quickly.

Let's go out and have fun again in two more days.

Okay, Boss. Just leave it to me.

Good.

(Life has smoothed out my edges.)

(I can't let this continue.)

(But the show must go on.)

(The key to being successful in the workplace is being a team player.)

(20th of March, Listening to the Songs)

Father, you can go first.

A total of 3.2 taels of silver.

Father, you are one tael short compared to last month.

I just got out of jail. I have many social events to attend to.

I'll give you more next month.

That's it. All of my money is here.

Fine. Go in and take a seat.

Thank you, dear.

A total of 3.5 taels.

This is what I earned from copying books and selling calligraphy artwork.

A total of 5.2 taels.

Nian.

You are such a good boy.

Go in and get ready to eat.

Rocks?

So many taels of silver.

Where did you get so much money?

I was rewarded by the yamen for going through the case files.

- Here. Eat. - Thank you, dear.

Good boy. Eat.

Let's eat.

Aunt.

I paid the most this month.

But you are just giving me this.

Give it to me if you don't want it.

Nian is going to take the spring imperial examination soon.

He needs more nutrients for his brain.

Both of you are warriors. You just need to eat some buns.

Nian.

Come.

This is for you too.

Nian, what's wrong?

Is something troubling you?

Nian.

Are you troubled by something?

An elder in our academy has become an official.

He'll depart to Qingzhou.

Every student has to send him off with a poem tomorrow.

But

I haven't come up with the farewell poem.

Forget it if you can't come up with one.

That elder is a renowned scholar.

He's an expert at poems.

If I can get his recognition,

it'll be beneficial for me.

If I could

befriend this literary senior back then,

I might have been able to save you from prison.

We wouldn't be so helpless.

Unfortunately,

you have no talent in poetry.

Your grandfather is the same.

He only knows how to write essays. But he has no talent in poetry.

Why are you laughing?

What has it got to do with my father?

Is this my father's fault?

Nian managed to get his Juren ranking

because of our Li family.

He takes after me.

Come. Look at Ling Yin.

She hasn't shown any signs of talent

because she takes after the Xu family.

Why are you laughing?

It's the same with you.

Wait. Why are you blaming me for your son's incompetence in poetry?

That's quite loud of you.

Did I say something wrong?

If you were good at studying,

you wouldn't be a warrior now.

What's wrong with being a warrior?

Can't a warrior be knowledgeable too?

Who will be the constables?

Who will read the case files?

- Who will solve so many cases? - Am I looking down on you?

Ning Yan.

Dear.

I'm on leave today. I can fight with you as much as you want later.

Stop!

Sit down and eat!

Write me a poem if you are so smart.

It's just a poem!

Alone in a foreign place.

Longing for home when the festivals hit.

- Is that a poem? - Yes. Eat.

Alone in a foreign place.

Longing for home when the festivals hit.

Alone at

a foreign place.

Longing for home

when the festivals hit.

This is a great poem.

It's marvelous.

You...

When did you learn how to write poems?

When have I ever said that I don't know poetry?

Is that a good poem?

- Is it good? - It's very symbolic.

So, in the end,

Ning Yan turns out to be the smart one.

I should've sent you to the academy

and asked Ci Jiu to practice martial arts.

But this poem is created by Ning Yan.

It's just for us to listen to.

Ci Jiu, don't steal it for yourself.

That's not the proper behavior of a scholar, right?

He won't steal it.

Ning Yan, lend this poem to me.

I'll put your name as the poet.

Ning Yan.

Eat more.

Eat more meat. You are a warrior. You need to eat more meat.

Here.

Let me feed you.

Enough.

Just take it and use it to...

And make it known to others.

Okay.

Alone at

a foreign place.

Longing for home

when the festivals hit.

A great poem.

Ning Yan, what about the rest of the poem?

I'm not done with my files yet.

I'll go back to my room now.

I'll keep you company.

I'll keep you company.

Are there any of you who want to present a poem

as a farewell gift for Scholar Zi Yang?

Even Que Zhi's poem was disregarded.

We better not make a fool of ourselves.

Master Zhang.

I have a poem.

Alone in a foreign place.

Longing for home when the festivals hit.

Fear not about having no comrades on this path.

As there's no one in this world

who doesn't know your name.

That's a great poem.

That's a great poem.

It's amazing.

It's a great poem. Fear not about having no comrades on this path.

As there's no one in this world who doesn't know your name.

Ci Jiu, why is there only half?

I just have half of the poem.

Just half?

It's okay.

It's okay.

Just half of it

is already magnificent.

Xu Ci Jiu.

Do you have a title for this poem?

- No. - Then let's call it the Mianyang Pavilion.

Sending off Yang Gong to Qingzhou.

Fear not about having no comrades on this path.

As there's no one in this world who doesn't know your name.

He tied his name to this poem.

He's really lucky.

This poem is new.

It's indeed extraordinary.

It will go down in history.

Xu Ci Jiu.

Come here.

What is it, Master?

Why didn't you present

such a great poem to me sooner?

Actually, I didn't come up with this poem.

Another man created this.

Who? Is he a disciple from our academy?

- He's my brother. - Your brother?

Why haven't you mentioned him before?

What is his name?

Who is his master?

My brother, Xu Ning Yan,

has been studying classics at home.

He doesn't have a master.

Come. Have a seat.

Have a seat. Drink some tea.

Look. I suddenly have the notion of accepting a disciple today.

Since I'm free today, take me to your home

so that I can meet your brother.

Xu Ci Jiu, where does your brother live?

I want to pay him a visit in person

and have a long talk with him.

I wish to play chess with him.

Chess is not the most important thing.

A scholar needs to study the constitution,

politics, self-cultivation, and familial regulations first.

My fellow masters.

My brother is not a scholar.

He's a warrior.

A warrior?

Why are you laughing?

You chess maniac.

You've never won a match against Wei Yuan.

You shameless man. Shut up.

Don't mention Wei Yuan in front of me.

I've always cherished talents.

I will take him

as my disciple.

You just want him for his poems.

You shameless man.

I'll blow you away with my sense of righteousness.

Sure. I'm not afraid of you.

I'll burn you with my charisma.

- I'll blow you away. - I'm not afraid of you.

Amazing!

Second Uncle, are you okay?

I'm fine.

I'm totally fine.

Not bad. You've improved.

But if you want to improve further,

you need to reach the Qi Refining Realm.

The Qi Refining Realm?

The Qi Refining Realm is different from the Energy Refining Realm.

To reach the eighth-rank Qi Refining Realm,

you need to nourish yourself with the Marrow Cleansing Liquid

or find a seventh-rank warrior from the Spirit Refining Realm

to open the Gate of Heaven for you.

Drink some water.

Back then,

when I was at the Battle of Linyuan Pass,

I only managed to earn some military merits

after risking my life fighting for our country.

I asked a warrior in our army to open the Gate of Heaven for me.

But the world is at peace now.

How can you earn some military merits?

How can you reach the Qi Refining Realm?

- Yes. - If you can't reach the Qi Refining Realm,

are you not going to build a family?

I've gotten old.

My only wish

is to see you getting married and having children.

That way, I won't let your late parents down.

No. Wait.

How is the Qi Refining Realm related to building a family?

Of course they are related.

If you get married and have children when you are in the Qi Refining Realm,

you'll forever stop at that level.

And your path as a warrior will be cut short.

Are there no other ways?

Other ways?

There are other ways too.

You just need to pay.

Pay?

You can buy the Marrow Cleansing Liquid

or hire a warrior with money.

Second Uncle. Return my money to me.

I want to reach the Qi Refining Realm, get married, and have children.

When have I taken your money?

You said that you kept my money for me.

Now, I want it back. Return it to me.

I just did the monthly payment.

- Is it hidden in your shoes? I saw you. - When did I hide it?

I don't have money. This is nonsense.

Let me tell you. I wouldn't do something so underhanded.

Don't ruin my reputation.

I need to get married and have children.

Father.

I'm done with the farming.

The weather is nice today.

How about you take me and Ling Yin out for a walk later?

- I'm busy. - What are you busy with?

Drinking with your friends again?

You are quite rich.

No.

I need to do something important today.

It's an official work.

You too, Ling Yue. Why do you keep going out?

Do you hate this house so much?

That's not true, Mother.

Just now, I saw that we are running out of noodles.

So, I just want to buy some.

Ask Ning Yan to go with you.

Me?

I need to read the case files.

- I can't leave unless Constable Wang is here. - Stop right there.

Do you want to get grounded again?

Get me the locks!

Wait!

Ladies. Let's go.

Dou Ding, let's mount the horse.

Ning Yan.

- Come back earlier. - Be careful.

Come back earlier.

Dou Ding.

Dou Ding, you can't eat more.

You've already eaten two.

Ling Yue!

Stop her.

You've eaten too much.

Let's go. We can eat it again tomorrow.

Little kids. Everything is here.

What flavor do you want?

Last one.

- Here you go. - Hold it tight.

- Let's go. - Thank you.

Slow down.

You finished another one.

Ling Yue, it's good to have you here.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to handle this tiny glutton.

She knows how to pick her battles.

She knows that you'll spoil her.

By the way,

you were at that bookstall for so long just now.

What were you reading?

There were some collections of poems.

Although I'm not an intellectual like Xin Nian,

I like to check out some literature too.

Do you like poems too?

Not really.

The poems in those collections are not as good

as the one you created on a whim.

By the way,

when have you started writing poems?

You are so different from before.

My brother would never be able to write a poem in the past.

What did I know in the past?

I don't know.

You don't know?

You were not a man of many words in the past.

You refused to eat with us

although my father invited you many times.

But now, you eat the most during every meal.

And you even dare talk back against my mother.

You are terrible.

But now, we are more like a family.

Candied hawthorn for sale.

Sweet and fruity candied hawthorn.

Ning Yan, candied hawthorn!

How can you still eat?

It's pointless for you to go to him.

Candied hawthorn is so sweet. Do you want to lose your teeth?

How about you beg me for it?

Please, Ning Yan.

Okay. I'll buy one for you.

Wait for me here.

- Look. - A butterfly!

- Look over there. - A butterfly.

Over there.

A butterfly.

A butterfly.

Look.

(Zhou Li, Son of the Vice Minister of Revenue)

I want to play with the swing. Push me.

Don't go, young ladies.

I'll catch the butterfly for you.

- You don't have to do that. - Of course I do.

Where are you going?

You are a bad man!

Little girl, I caught the butterfly for you.

Look.

- It's dead. - Don't be scared.

- Don't touch him. - Come. Let me touch you.

Let me touch you. Hurry up.

Candied hawthorn!

Candied hawthorn!

Sweet and fruity candied hawthorn.

Where are they?

What were you doing?

What did I teach you?

You need to treat ladies kindly. Understand?

And you. She wants a living butterfly, not a dead one.

Watch and learn.

Let me through. Excuse me. Let me through.

Little girl.

Go away!

Let's go.

Brother.

Dou Ding, don't be scared. I'm here.

- Here you go. - Ning Yan.

Ling Yue, take Ling Yin and get out of here.

Go.

Young Master.

I'm sorry. I was too worked out just now. Sorry.

- Your robe is torn because of me. - Go away.

What's going on over there? Why are there so many people?

Let's go. Come to the yamen with me.

Young Master, my uncle is the Imperial Sword Guard, Xu Ping Zhi.

They were my sisters. What did they do to offend you?

Xu Ping Zhi?

The one

who lost the tax money?

That's right. Looks like you know my uncle.

This is easy, then. I'll bring my uncle and pay you a visit...

How dare you!

Beat him up.

Beat him up.

Who is beating the drum of injustice?

- Ling Yue? - Uncle Wang.

Ning Yan is in danger. Please save him.

Please inform my father about it.

He's drinking at Li Bai Hu's house.

Young Master.

It was just a verbal fight between us.

There's no need to hurt us.

Cut off both the fascia in his hands and legs.

Stay away!

Otherwise, I'll kill him.

You... Do you know

- who am I? - I don't care.

Let me tell you something.

Even a commoner can get angry too.

Once a commoner gets mad, I...

Stop!

Move aside.

Who is so bold

to commit a crime in Changle County?

Arrest him.

I will

punish him severely.

- Take them away. - Roger that.

What is the meaning of this? Let me go!

- Let me go! - Why did you offend him?

He's the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue.

Are you blind?

Don't you know who I am?

I'm not good with faces.

I don't know who you are.

If you have anything, you can take it up to the magistrate.

Let's go.

You useless man.

- Let go of me! - Let's go!

- Have you informed my second uncle? - I have.

We need to come up with a solution.

Let's go back to the yamen first.

You are really good at causing trouble.

Ning Yan.

Where is Ling Yin?

She was frightened today and had fallen asleep in the side hall.

My Lord.

Take your sister to the back of the court. Do not come out.

Okay. Let's go.

I didn't say that you can leave. Stop right there.

Go.

Aren't you Young Master Zhou?

How's Vice Minister Zhou?

That man tried to kill me on the street.

Arrest him at once.

I'm sure that's not true. Young Master Zhou.

This is a conflict between people on the same side.

We are on the same side.

You are a great man. Please forgive that petty man.

Don't try to change my mind.

Are you going to arrest him?

No?

Fine. I'll arrest him myself.

Guards! Catch that brat.

No. Young Master Zhou.

I am an official of the imperial court.

I will follow the law of our country.

Guards.

I've received a letter of complaint

against you

for bullying young ladies on the street.

The plaintiff is Xu Ling Yue.

Young Master Zhou.

Let's have a talk.

Young Master Zhou.

There will be an inspection soon.

If someone takes this up to His Majesty,

I'm afraid it'll be bad

for your father too, right?

Get lost.

Jiu Zhi, are you okay?

Why are you just standing there? Catch him.

Zhou Li!

You hurt someone in the magistrate court.

Guards.

Arrest him!

Zhu.

Are you sure you dare arrest me?

We shall see.

Good.

You are just a magistrate.

Quite bold of you.

Tell my father

that someone has looked down upon him.

Yes, Young Master.

It's bad.

I think Zhou Li sent someone to ask for help.

Looks like you won't be able to escape this trouble today.

Leave. Right now.

I'll ask someone to get you out of the city. Go as far as possible. Go.

If I leave, what about my second uncle's family?

It's not the right time for you to worry about that.

We need to save as many as we can.

Boss.

Lend me one tael of silver.

A tael of silver?

That's a lot.

I don't have much on me.

This is all I have.

It'll be enough for your journey.

This is enough.

Ride a horse and got to my house right now.

Find a book in the cabinet beside my bed.

A book with a blue cover. Don't take the wrong book.

Take the book to the Astronomical Bureau to find a lady named Cai Wei.

Relay this message for me. Xu Qi An is in trouble.

Need help urgently.

Okay.

No.

The Astronomical Bureau is not a place where someone like me can enter.

If something happens to me,

you won't get your money back.

If you can get this done, my salary next month will be yours.

Money

is not important.

But remember to pay me back.

- Yellow... - A blue cover.

A blue cover. Okay.

Ning Yan.

Don't worry.

I'm here.

Young Master Zhou, calm down.

It's not a serious matter.

How about I give him 20 beatings as an apology to you?

If it's not enough, I can give him 50 beatings.

I want him dead!

You!

The Ministry of Justice is here to arrest a criminal. Others, stay away.

If you dare interfere,

you'll receive the same punishment.

The Ministry of Justice?

Xu Qi An.

You scoundrel.

Xu Qi An, don't pretend not to hear me.

Get out.

Arrest him!

Brother.

- My Lord. He bullied me first. - Yue.

My brother stopped him.

Why are you arresting my brother instead?

I'll decide

whether or not he's guilty.

- Get lost! - My Lord.

Ling Yue.