Original subtitles

Aren't these

Changxuan's favorite

spring rolls with three fillings?

Yes, Miss.

The three fillings

are seasoned with a rich scallop stock.

We put hand-picked

bamboo shoots from the Tianmu Mountain,

plus shredded Xuanwei ham as well as

shredded breast from freshly slaughtered chicken.

Just how young master

likes them.

The freshness of spring

is springing in every bite.

Thus the byname— "biting into spring."

It's more than just a lucky name

for a happy new year.

Each crisp layer

wraps a little good fortune inside.

May your family enjoy

a smooth, happy year ahead.

Changxuan hardly ever makes it back home.

He'll miss out again this time.

Indeed.

No one knows if Miss Ye

will ever wake up.

It's been over two years.

What if she never wakes up?

Madam...

You want to take that back!

If anything happened to Pingjun,

if she...

didn't make it,

would Changxuan survive it?

I can't sit here.

Something doesn't feel right.

I need to go to Redleaf.

Mother.

Changxuan's made it clear

we are not to disturb them.

He must have his reasons.

Let's just keep waiting,

lest we made things harder for him.

That's right, Mother.

Changxuan always knows what he's doing.

Rest assured.

Go on, eat.

Madam.

It's time for medicine.

I'll take it myself.

There. Easy.

It doesn't seem

as bitter as yesterday's.

Master noticed

you found it bitter,

and had us add osmanthus honey.

He wrote a note about it

and sent it to the kitchen

in case we forgot.

Madam,

there's something I don't get.

We all think the master's pouring his love

all over you and you alone.

But you never actually

seem so happy about it.

Just the fact that

he's stayed by my side,

taking meticulous care of me

all this time I was unconscious,

never giving up on me,

is more than most people

could manage.

The day I woke up,

I saw him there.

I saw the relief in his eyes.

You're awake.

That's when I knew

he really does care about me.

But...

But you always seem

to keep him at arm's length.

I know he's decent.

But somehow

I keep feeling like

we will always

travel on completely different paths.

We're from two distinct worlds.

How could we ever end up together?

Mr. Yu,

what I'm trying to say is,

if we're from different worlds,

we'd be better off keeping our distance.

I know he's decent.

But somehow,

I keep feeling like

we will always

travel on completely different paths.

We're from distinct worlds.

How could we ever end up together?

Look at those gamblers downstairs.

They think one lucky hand

can beat the odds.

But life...

Life isn't as simple as

a game of chance.

Love, most of all.

Once you lose that bet,

there's no comeback,

no second chance.

Did you get burned?

No.

It's only warm water.

I'll drink it myself.

When did you get back?

A little while ago.

Have you had dinner?

Want me to

have the kitchen send something up?

No need.

Your clothes are wet.

I'll help you change.

No, it's fine.

I can do it myself.

Your fingers are still stiff.

Don't push it.

I can have Tang

up here anytime.

Isn't it her time off?

You used to go on about

everyone being born equal.

Now

does that not apply

to your own maid?

Does she deserve to toil away

around the clock for you?

Wh-what are you doing?

If you need anything,

just ring for me.

It's cold and rainy outside.

Planning to freeze yourself out there?

You're at headquarters all day,

handling military business.

I'd feel guilty robbing you of

a proper rest at night.

What, am I just here for show?

Want me sent for?

Here's how.

One ring

means you want water.

Two rings

means another blanket.

And three rings?

Three...

means you miss me.

Got it?

Don't worry.

If you can't remember,

I'll teach you from scratch.

What are you doing?

You're seriously going to sleep here?

Since you won't ring for me,

I'll have to stay

right by your side all night,

at your beck and call.

You promised.

We're not that close.

Not enough

to share a bed!

Get out.

You said

if I rang the bell,

you'd do as I asked.

Quick learner, huh?

Go sleep on your army cot.

Off you go.

Three rings

means you miss me.

Sir.

You're here.

What's the matter?

Last time I came, it was still this number.

Why the sudden price hike?

Good stuff's always in demand.

And the more people want it,

the pricier it gets.

Then give me five silver dollars' worth.

Not gonna happen.

Come on.

Miss Lan.

Who are you?

Let go of me!

Tong Chunhai, at your service.

You're a star, Miss Lan,

shining through the country.

I'm just another face in the crowd.

Of course you wouldn't know me.

But you'll recognize this.

A little something for you,

for our first meeting.

I live on Laifu Alley,

in the Jiazi compound.

If you feel like

paying me a visit,

I'll be waiting.

The kids

are recovering nicely.

You took such good care of them.

The credit isn't mine.

You were the one who

showed them all that patience.

They're willing to take their meds

only if you told them to.

Jinxuan, let me take you home.

It's fine.

I can manage.

I'll hail a rickshaw, then.

All right.

Rickshaw!

I'm off.

Take care!

Put one row upright here.

Here, along this edge.

Then connect it across.

Line up the corner.

Let's get you up.

Breathe. You can do it.

All that meds and

acupuncture from Dr. Dai

were done for a reason.

And besides...

you're the bravest person

I've ever known.

Give it a try.

I'll try.

Don't watch your feet.

Eyes forward.

Beautiful.

Now the other foot.

That's it.

Easy does it.

You're okay.

I won't let you fall.

We'll take it one step at a time.

See?

Your fingers were stiff at first,

and now

you thread beads like a pro.

We'll keep at it every day,

and you'll only get better.

Okay?

Keep going.

That's it.

Take it slow.

You're improving already.

Here.

Time for your medicine.

Zongzi candy.

Dr. Dai says

a hot spring soak can boost circulation

and help ease

the aches from rehab.

You feel cold?

Not at all.

Dr. Dai says a massage

of the pressure points is a must

after exercising.

Tell me if it hurts.

Does it hurt a lot?

Not really.

I'm fine.

Just tell me if it's too much.

Don't tough it out.

Cover your eyes.

It'll help you work on your balance.

Try to relax.

Let go.

I'll walk on my own.

You sure?

I can walk!

I can walk!

Changxuan!

I can walk! I did it!

Congrats.

Thank you.

Without you,

I don't know if I'd ever

have woken up.

Nor would I have had

any idea that

I'd be able to walk and run

like everyone else again.

What do you want as a reward?

Anything you want.

Those little zongzi candies.

The evidence is all here.

Now confess.

Who was that inside man of yours,

passing off defective guns as good ones,

smuggling them into the army?

I've got your family

settled outside the city.

They're out of danger for now.

But that depends.

On how much you're willing to cooperate.

It was...

a brigade commander in the 4th Army.

Cai...

Cai Fuhu.

Ruitong,

what do we do about Cai Fuhu?

Should we tell Changxuan?

Let's not bother him just yet.

Changxuan's helping Miss Ye recover.

He should have some time with her.

Let's investigate

the evidence against Cai Fuhu

then report back to him.

You'll have to change how you address her.

It's been almost two years

since they tied the knot.

She's been your sister-in-law for ages.

Time you started calling her that.

Come on.

Madam.

I've found you some

magazines and novels as you asked.

I hope there's

something that catches your eye.

I'll go get you more.

Just leave them here.

I'll look through them later.

Thank you.

I'll go see about some snacks.

What are you reading?

This author writes

with such plainspoken sincerity.

There's nothing flowery about the language,

yet it has such grace and beauty.

He writes about how fragile life is,

but somehow,

it still stirs the soul.

If you like it, it must be good.

Who brought you these books?

Tang did.

Why do you ask?

I have things to take care of.

I'll be back at dinnertime.

Did you hire this maid?

I did, sir.

Did she...

Did she do something wrong?

We don't need her here anymore.

Tell her to leave. Now.

Sir...

Please, I'm begging you.

Don't throw me out.

Please don't send me away!

My father's a gambler.

Nanny Zhao took pity on me,

buying me out and kindly

getting me the job.

Madam has also been so kind to me.

I've done everything I can

to take good care of her.

Sir,

I'm begging you.

Please don't send me away.

Please. I'm begging you.

Sir, please!

Don't throw me out.

Please!

Tang, get up.

Without my permission,

no one is sending her away.

Come out. Now.

Those magazines

were my idea.

I just wanted something to read.

She had nothing to do with it.

I can't get my head around

how these magazines

possibly got on your nerves.

They're subversive publications.

They'll do you no good.

So you think

you can just sell a girl off on a whim?

She did something wrong.

Her stay at Redleaf is the cost.

Why are you suddenly

a different person?

You've been good to me,

but I'm not some possession

you can keep locked up here.

If you can't treat me

as an equal,

I'll have to rethink

what this relationship means to me.

Whether Tang's staying or not,

I shall reconsider.

As for you and me,

when it begins

and when it ends,

that's for me to decide.

All right, all right.

Enough, enough.

Take it easy on the drinks.

I'm telling you,

you can't just bark orders at her

like you're back

in the barracks,

throwing your weight around.

When you get back to Redleaf,

try sweet-talking her a little.

She'll come around.

From the very beginning,

between us,

it was as if

there was an invisible wall.

Funny thing is,

once I finally got close,

the wall was still there.

If you ask me,

some things are best

talked through confidantes.

That's what works.

Right?

Maybe we could ask Miss Lan.

She and our sister-in-law

used to be close.

Maybe they still click.

You know what?

Gu's actually onto something.

Look who's finally catching on.

Seriously.

I'll bet Miss Lan can

get through to her

the way unimaginable by men.

Right?

Why are you suddenly

a different person?

You've been good to me,

but I'm not some possession

you can keep locked up here.

If you can't treat me

as an equal,

I'll have to rethink

what this relationship means to me.

As for you and me,

when it begins

and when it ends,

that's for me to decide.

What brings you here?

It's been ages since you last came by.

Miss Lan.

There's something

I need your help with.

Qing.

You have such a lovely voice.

Thanks for coming all this way to keep me company.

Pingjun,

you really don't remember any of it?

My time at the Grand Vernal

is walled off from me somehow.

But when I heard your voice just now,

something about it

felt oddly familiar.

Look.

You used to transcribe scripts for me.

You'd read them aloud to me

again and again,

once you finished.

Later on,

you joined Spring Breeze Theatre,

writing new-style plays.

The progressive students

and all the educated ladies and gentlemen

couldn't stop singing your praises.

In your plays,

you wrote about

saving our country and its people.

You even wrote plays urging people to boycott Japanese goods.

Pingjun,

I truly admire you.

What you've done

is more than I could ever hope to do.

Qing,

thank you for telling me

about my past.

Miss Lan,

it's all thanks to

Madam here

that I get to hear you perform.

Madam,

shall we take the medicine?

Surely I don't have to take this

with every single meal?

Just put it aside for now.

Madam,

The master foresees it all.

He went to quite a few old-established shops

to get you some pear syrup candy.

Says it takes the bitterness right out.

My dear,

Master has been so thoughtful.

It's plain how much you mean to him.

I know he's good to me.

But I can't shake the feeling

that between us,

there's something in the way.

Don't worry.

I've watched the two of you

from the very beginning.

The first time I saw him look at you,

I knew right away

you'd stolen his heart.

Your joys and sorrows

come first for him.

Neither of you

would think twice

about laying down your life for the other.

Still,

when it comes to matters of the heart,

outsiders can only say so much.

As for you and Changxuan,

you'll come to understand it for yourself, in time.

Hope to see you again!

Anytime.

Sure!

Take it easy.

I'll be back tomorrow!

See you then!

Whose car is this?

It's blocking the road!

Move the damn thing!

Cai Fuhu.

What do you think you're doing?

Madam,

the doctor says you are recovering

remarkably well.

He also said

you should keep moving.

The master's temporary headquarters isn't far

from Redleaf.

There's a ginkgo-lined road outside,

the leaves turning a gorgeous gold.

Shall I take you out

for a look?

All right.

Come on.

I'm a fool!

I'm so stupid!

I'm a fool!

I... I deserved it!

I'm such an asshole!

Finished?

Good. Now, down to business.

General,

I wasn't thinking straight.

I just wanted to make a little extra money.

Only a tiny fraction of those guns

were swapped out for faulty ones.

I've got parents to support and kids to raise.

If I die,

how will they

manage without me?

I'm begging you...

That's easy for you to say.

Do you realize your faulty guns

nearly wiped out

an entire squad?

General.

It's all my fault.

My son

just turned eighteen.

Please, have mercy.

Spare him.

Your son is precious.

Does that make other people's sons expendable?

Your son has barely been in the army a year,

and you've already dragged him into

this vile racket,

victimizing so many innocent soldiers.

Tell me,

why should I spare him?

Dad! Dad!

I don't want to die!

Save me, Dad!

I don't want to die!

General! General!

Please, Mr. Yu!

Commander Gu! Commander Gu!

Please, talk to Mr. Yu for mercy!

I made one stupid mistake, that's all!

General!

General!

Please, it's my first offense.

I'm begging you,

please spare our lives.

Spare your lives?

What about all those soldiers?

No one spared them.

General,

I-I had nothing to do with this!

My father made me do it!

General! Please!

Get these bastards out of here.