Original subtitles

=Tigers Sniff the Rose=

(Based on the novel of the same name by Yiren Kuikui)

=Episode 8=

(The Day of the Peony Festival; Upright and Honorable)

(Cuiyun Tower)

(Cuiyun Tower)

(Princess Danyang's Residence)

(Mingde Gate)

The year the seven Military Governors rebelled,

my whole family was killed.

I was forced into a life of degradation.

Ten years have passed.

No one's ever lifted a finger to help me,

let alone buy my freedom.

We've both fallen on hard times.

Miss,

you must leave now.

But if I leave today,

what will happen to you?

If Zhang Renjing finds out

you bought my freedom,

then...

Don't worry.

I'll find a way out.

Just leave Sheng'an,

so he can never bother you again.

You've saved me twice.

I'm deeply in your debt.

I'll repay you in my next life.

All I wish is

that you can live freely

from now on.

(Mingde Gate)

(Mr. Zhang!)

(It's been a while.)

(Nice to see you both!)

(Sigui Garden)

Captain,

sorry for the wait.

What took you so long?

I've waited ages.

I came on foot,

so I'm a little late.

The private room is ready.

It's ready?

Please follow me.

This way.

Where is she?

Please wait, Captain.

Just a little longer.

I'll let you know

as soon as Xu Mianmian's here.

What a hassle.

Tell her to hurry up!

Got it.

I'll go check.

Captain,

what's this?

Well...

I paid a lot for this from foreign traders.

It's powerful.

You wouldn't understand.

Go on!

Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

(What a grand procession!)

(Magnificent!)

(I've never seen such a splendid carriage!)

When will the Peony Goddess rite be over?

(Jin Bu, Imperial Sacrifice Official) Your Highness,

it ends at noon.

Good.

(Why not compose a poem?)

(Exactly!)

(It'd add to the fun.)

(Let's just admire the flowers.)

(Such fine blooms)

(are rare to see outside.)

(They must've been carefully tended.)

Your Highness,

go ahead and pray to the Peony Goddess.

I'll excuse myself for a moment.

But we haven't...

Go enjoy yourself, too.

(Let's look over here.)

(All right.)

Yan Shang.

Your Highness.

What brings you here?

What's wrong?

Am I not allowed at this festival?

I just...

never expected

to see you again so soon.

Since I've run into you,

show me around the garden.

Your Highness, I have things to do.

What could be more important than me?

Come.

(Candied fruit, plums, and apricots!)

This one looks nice.

We'll take it.

This one.

And this one.

(Sweet and sour. Delicious!)

This one, too!

Pay up.

Here.

Miss,

get some Peony Goddess knots.

Tie them around your wrists

for good luck and good health.

The Peony Goddess will bless you.

I'll take them all.

Peony Goddess knots!

Help me tie it.

(Pretty sachets and purses!)

(All handmade.)

(Ladies, come take a look.)

Thank you.

(Sachets and purses!)

(Pretty sachets and purses!)

There.

Does it look good?

Of course.

You're not even paying attention.

(Twenty copper coins.)

What are you doing?

Tired of showing me around?

I wouldn't dare.

Keep up.

Yan Shang,

this garden is huge.

What's your favorite spot?

There's an old stone well in the northwest corner.

The clear water

reflects the clouds and trees.

It's peaceful and lovely.

Not my kind of place.

(Trinkets and knickknacks!)

Let's look over there.

(Lovely things! Come take a look!)

(Miss, have a look!)

Tired from walking?

Shall we take a break?

Yan Shang,

your story last night was bad enough.

Today,

don't upset me again.

Chunhua.

This is for you.

Lip rouge?

Just something I picked up.

I don't know much about these things.

If you don't like it,

throw it away.

And this.

And this.

And this.

These earrings, too.

Hope you like them.

All right.

Stop pulling things out.

I can't carry all this.

Liu Wenji,

I need to ask you something.

Go ahead.

Do you like me?

Liu Wenji,

I do like you.

If you like me too,

will you marry me?

Chunhua...

My father

always told me

that I should earn honors,

pass the imperial exam,

and...

and...

marry...

a woman of noble birth.

But, Chunhua,

that's not what I want.

I like you.

I'll make you my wife.

It's a promise, then.

Thank you.

(Look, isn't this the lot we wanted?)

Go ahead.

(Exactly!)

They say the peony lots here never miss.

Try one.

Your Highness, please.

You draw first.

I don't believe in fortune-telling.

(You two in front!)

(Are you drawing or not?)

Hurry up!

(A phoenix heralds a new age; the moon lights her lonely path)

(Great statecraft draws vast wisdom; the heavens await mending at court.)

The court...

Seems you'll hold the highest office one day.

In that case,

this lot must be wrong.

Governing is hard enough,

(A phoenix heralds a new age.) let alone "mending the heavens."

What did you draw?

Not telling you.

Didn't you say it doesn't count?

(Retreat of Grace)

(Wonderful!)

(Wonderful!)

(Retreat of Grace)

(Retreat of Grace)

(The Peony Goddess rite is almost over.)

Princess Danyang is over there.

Her stuff.

(So beautiful!)

(Indeed!)

(I've never seen peonies like these!)

Yan Shang, look!

Wanyao!

You scared me half to death!

Where's Yan Shang?

Wanyao,

when did you get here?

Where do you want to go next?

I'll come with you.

I've told you,

don't call me Wanyao.

Coming through!

What is it?

Her Highness wants you to fetch some wine

and wait for her in the room.

How did you know?

You can ask me anything.

However,

when you're serving Her Highness,

ask fewer questions.

Thank you for the advice.

I'll fetch the wine now.

(Jifu)

(Jifu)

(Jifang) I've heard

Grand Princess Luling has a private pavilion in the garden.

Which one is it?

Whenever the Grand Princess comes to see the flowers,

she takes over Jifang Pavilion.

(Jifang)

(Jifu)

Captain, sorry to keep you waiting.

Let's go.

I'll take you there.

Move it.

This way.

The Jifu Pavilion.

Wait here, Captain.

Miss Xu will be here soon.

(Jifang)

(Jifu)

Fu...

(Jifu)

I know this character.

Fu means good fortune!

(Jifu)

(Jifang)

That idiot!

He's actually fallen asleep!

And he still expects a promotion?

Wake him up!

- Yes! - Yes!

Who's this old man?

Wake up!

How dare you!

Look at yourself!

How dare you offend me?

Kill him!

Seize him!

Seal off the entire garden!

Until that filthy wretch is caught,

no one is leaving!

(Over there!)

(He's over there!)

(What's happening?)

(Take him away!)

(Move!)

Captain!

Run!

Hurry!

Captain, we're in deep trouble!

I'll get you out of here.

Hurry!

What's going on?

Get me out.

Quiet.

At that ruined temple in Chuzhou,

it was you

who slashed my father's knees!

Your men

killed my little brother.

You slit my mother's throat.

And my eldest brother

was crippled for life.

They suffered a thousand times more

than you!

Zhang Renjing,

did you ever think

this day would come?

♪A rough-cut gem, held close to heart♪

♪Lean bamboo bones, yet mountain-bold♪

♪Books bear no blade♪

♪Yet tens of thousands of scrolls can pierce the sky♪

♪My body is the furnace, flames reach the clouds♪

♪Winds gather, then drift apart♪

♪I see no court, only a boundless world♪

♪In all I do, I have no regrets♪

♪I gaze at high peaks and sails far away♪

♪With the world in my heart, I leave the shore♪

♪With rain ahead, I cross the pass♪

♪Who'll wait with me for the boat home?♪

♪By noon, the mist will lift; rivers will bend♪

♪I'll take the open road and journey home♪

♪With rosy clouds, I bid the moon goodnight♪

♪And trade my old robes for new♪

(By order of the Grand Princess,)

(no one may leave the garden.)

(Violators will be arrested!)

There's been a murder in the garden.

As a judicial officer,

I must investigate.

Go on.

(The snake's head and the hornet)

(were crushed beneath the wheel.)

(They were both dead.)

(Your Highness,)

(I'm leaving.)

(Yan Shang,)

(where are you?)

(The clear water)

(reflecting the clouds and trees.)

(It's peaceful and lovely.)

Yan Shang!

Your Highness.

Come with me!

Hurry!

Your Highness...

Go!

Your Highness...

I've killed someone.

Quiet!

I can't get away.

Fang Tong, go!

I won't drag you down with me.

Stop talking nonsense!

(Who's there? Get down!)

What bad luck!

I'll have to burn incense all day!

Aunt!

Wanyao?

You're here too.

I heard someone was killed in the garden!

How terrifying!

Aunt,

can I go home early?

There's blood everywhere.

I really...

Aunt, I really can't stand the sight of blood!

Let her go!

Thank you, Aunt!

You're the best!

(Why is that carriage moving?)

(Mr. Shen, easy.)

(Malted milk cakes)

Why did you kill him?

For revenge.

What revenge?

Back when we were in Lingnan,

I told Your Highness

my family fled south

to escape the Rebellion.

Mother dead, younger brother killed.

Father left crippled, elder brother traumatized.

As we fled south,

we watched prosperous cities fall.

Splendor turned to ashes.

Corpses littered the fields and wastelands.

Some were soldiers,

others ordinary folk.

Wherever the rebel warlords went,

they slaughtered the people first.

Everyone fled in fear

at their approach.

We were lucky.

We'd managed to escape them all.

And then?

Later,

at that ruined temple,

we ran into a squad of the Shence Army.

We couldn't escape.

They killed innocents to claim military merit.

The man who just died

was Zhang Renjing.

Back then,

he was just a squad leader,

roaming the area with his men,

desperate to rack up kills.

So...

he cut the ears off innocent people,

stuffed them into a sack,

and claimed military merit.

And then...

he got his wish.

So I killed him.

He deserved to die long ago.

I killed him.

I killed him personally!

I avenged them.

I avenged my family.

Yan Shang.

Look at me.

You've suffered so much.

At last, you've cast off

that heavy burden.

I envy you for that.

You've done right as a son

and as a brother.

If your mother

and brother know from the afterlife,

they can rest in peace.

You've carried this burden for too long.

It breaks my heart to see you like this.

Don't be afraid.

We're out of the garden now.

(How much longer do we have to wait?)

(Everyone, stand back!)

(Exactly!)

(One more step and I'll arrest you!)

(Back off!)

(You!)

(Hurry!)

(Back!)

(We're only following orders!)

(We have work to do!)

(Quiet, or you'll all be arrested!)

Your Highness,

have you seen Princess Danyang?

I've looked everywhere for her.

Quiet!

How dare you!

How would I know where she is?

How dare a maid of Princess Danyang

defy her betters!

(Don't crowd here!)

(Everyone, stand back!)

(Any more trouble, and I'll arrest you!)

(Back! Move back!)

(Back!)

Wenji.

Don't worry.

I'll keep looking with you.

(Back!)

Let's go.

(Back!)

Just my luck!

(Back!)

Go ask them

when they'll let us leave.

(Back!)

I just asked.

Princess Luling is still furious.

She's only a woman,

and all she's got is...

(Let us go!)

(What did we do wrong?)

(I swear, I know nothing!)

(Why are you keeping us here?)

(When will you let us go?)

(Step back!)

(Step back!)

(Let us go!)

(Back!)

(No further!)

(Everyone, stand back!)

(Are you pushing us around?)

(Everyone, back!)

Your Highness, we couldn't find the killer.

Useless!

Search again!

Yes!

Your Highness,

we've searched every corner of the garden.

Another search would be pointless.

Though we didn't catch the killer,

we did detain several suspects.

I'll send them

to the Court of Judicial Review for questioning

and give Your Highness an answer.

Then what are we waiting for?

Back to my residence!

Bring that Imperial Sacrifice official

to the Court of Judicial Review.

I'll question him myself.

Yes, sir!

Stand down!

(They're letting us go!)

(Let's get out of here.)

(Where's Wanyao?)

Chancellor,

where are we going?

South.

Out of the city.

(Got it.)

(Princess Danyang's Residence)

Come.

Let's go home.

Your Highness...

I should be going.

Where will you go?

I've avenged my family,

and thanks to Your Highness,

I've escaped with my life.

In this life,

I have nothing more to ask for.

I must return to Lingnan.

You're leaving so soon?

This cloak...

You can keep it.

It's dirty now.

I can't return it like this.

I'm afraid

I can never repay you

for saving my life.

There's only one thing

I can offer you in return.

♪Be the ferry where you wait for the sun♪

Your Highness...

♪Be the blue silk that catches your tears♪

Take care.

♪Be the sleeve we held, worn by dust and years♪

Get out.

♪Let's conspire to grow old together♪

♪Let me be a captive beast bound by the same lock as you♪

♪Through trails of mud♪

(Yan Shang,)

(is this really all)

(you want from this life?)

♪- Soar with the wind; burning bright - Plunge into hellfire as one♪

♪See how roses and green bamboo enchant♪

♪Be the vow I make with all my heart♪

♪If we say forever, then forever it shall be♪

♪Not a single hour less♪

♪However deep the snow♪

♪I'll wait if you're there♪

♪We'll be gods above, or wandering souls♪

♪In heaven or the underworld, you're all I need♪

♪If we can stay, let's return to the village of our first meeting♪

♪- May time be free of fear - Boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain - Lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪Sharp winds or fierce rain♪ (Mingde Gate)

♪Nothing can break us♪

♪Be my one and only in this world; be my one and only in this life♪

(Mingde Gate)

♪My last untouched innocence♪

Young man, wait.

Chancellor Liu.

Don't forget,

you still owe me a game of Go.

Let's finish it before you go.

What do you say?

You waited here

just to finish that game?

That's right.

Just for that game.

Last time, you said

you came to Sheng'an to right a wrong.

Now that you're leaving,

have you set things right?

I have.

Was killing Zhang Renjing really enough?

To be frank,

I'd seen you at the Imperial Academy

long before we met.

Out of curiosity,

I looked into your background.

I knew your father.

He was good at poems

and famous throughout the capital.

I even met your mother

at her parents' home before she married.

What a remarkable woman,

so free-spirited and above worldly concerns.

Such fine youths.

But I digress.

At my age,

I tend to ramble.

I waited here today

to ask you just one thing:

is it truly enough?

Zhang Renjing dared

to kill innocents for military merit

because he served in the Shence Army.

The Shence Army dares to kill at will

because Yu Cheng'an controls the court.

Even His Majesty

has to bow to him.

The court keeps showering the Shence Army with rewards.

Its officers can be promoted

without even reporting.

Even the censors dare not inspect it.

Yu Cheng'an wields such power

because His Majesty needs his Shence Army

to keep the regional warlords in check.

As for the warlords,

they've amassed troops and grown restless.

They've even demanded

princesses into humiliating marriages

just to buy the court a moment's peace.

They'll rebel again

at the slightest opportunity.

Lord Yu controls the court,

the warlords run rampant,

and the officials turn a blind eye.

You're right, Chancellor.

Zhang Renjing wasn't the only one

who made my family suffer.

Nor was he the only one who slaughtered

countless innocents.

What a shame,

I'm just a commoner.

There's nothing I can do.

(Next Episode Preview)

Thank you, Your Highness.

I'll probably need to borrow from you a lot.

Looking you over,

that mouth is your only real asset.

Make sure

you put it to good use.

♪If we're lucky to stay in this world♪

♪Be the ferry where you wait for the sun♪

♪Be the blue silk that catches your tears♪

♪Be the sleeve we held, worn by dust and years♪

♪Let's conspire to grow old together♪

♪Let me be a captive beast bound by the same lock as you♪

♪- Through trails of mud and blood; - let grief drown in your eyes♪

♪Soar with the wind; plunge into hellfire as one♪

♪Burning bright as a song♪

♪See how roses and green bamboo enchant♪

♪Be the vow I make with all my heart♪

♪If we say forever, then forever it shall be♪

♪Not a single hour less♪

♪However deep the snow, I'll wait if you're there♪

♪We'll be gods above, or wandering souls♪

♪In heaven or the underworld, you're all I need♪

♪If we can stay, let's return to the village of our first meeting♪

♪- May time be free of fear; - boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain; - lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪Sharp winds or fierce rain, nothing can break us♪

♪Be mine in this world; be mine in this life♪

♪My last untouched innocence♪

♪If only we could return to the village where we first met♪

♪Stay by me; help me forget the frozen dream of last night♪

♪Fireflies glow, flowers kiss our lips; just us, through dawn and dusk♪

♪- May time be free of fear; - boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain; - lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪By your side, through joy and pain, is that eternity?♪

♪Till fireworks flood the town♪

♪Till the lake is still and clear♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

(No animals were harmed or mistreated in production.)