Original subtitles

[Episode 9]

My Lord,

why did you go to Madam Xu's courtyard?

I...

I heard the sound of a zither.

I saw her memorial tablet.

My Lord,

you're talking nonsense.

Madam Xu was perfectly fine when she left the Capital eight years ago.

There can't be a memorial tablet for her.

I... I really saw Wan Zhou's memorial tablet.

The servants carried you back.

It is just a deserted courtyard.

There was nothing there.

- Really? - Of course.

Bring some calming tea and hot water.

Your Highness.

- Your Highness, you are going to the office? - Yes.

Let me help you with your clothes.

Why are they so wrinkled?

It's my fault. I forgot to iron His Highness's clothes.

It's fine. It's time.

We have to go.

I have a way.

It won't take long.

Don't worry.

I won't let you get burned.

Embroiderers in Jiangnan use this trick.

It works better than a charcoal iron.

All done.

Will Your Highness be back for dinner today?

I'm not sure.

You'll be busy until late?

There's a lot to do.

Is there something you need?

I've invited my senior brother over today.

Will you come back and eat with us?

Your Highness. We have to leave, or we'll really be late.

I'll try my best.

Then I'll wait for you.

Let's get prepared.

[Jingzhao Prefecture]

As soon as the new governor took office,

he hired someone from the prison

to be our colleague.

It's getting hard to figure out what the Governor is up to.

Vice Governor.

As the saying goes, "a new broom sweeps clean."

Looks like the Governor is only just

getting started.

I am Gu Zheng, the new clerk.

Look. What a show-off!

Your Highness.

The Jingzhao Office has complex affairs and voluminous records.

It's impossible to handle them all within a day.

Don't exhaust yourself.

Given what Zheng Zuo Shi did,

I guess Gongshu Yang must have turned a blind eye to him all along.

The Jingzhao Office has long-standing ills.

We have to deal with them soon,

otherwise, they'll become even thornier.

How is Gu Zheng doing?

Clerk Gu is worth five of them.

In just one morning, all the attendants already know

that if they want to get things done, they must go to Clerk Gu.

Rest assured.

Your Highness.

The canteen made milk-stewed fish and manna soup today.

The department heads and the attendants

have all left for lunch.

Then let's go as well.

Give me a bit more.

The fish is very fresh today.

Indeed.

Why aren't Vice Governor Zheng and Officer Li here?

The atmosphere today doesn't feel right either.

That Clerk Gu is a bit too efficient.

What do you think

the new governor is up to?

Does he want to

fire all of us?

You worry about far too much.

Just do your job well.

- Greetings, Governor. - Greetings, Governor.

- Greetings, Governor. - Greetings, Governor.

- Greetings, Governor. - Greetings, Governor.

Please, carry on as usual.

I've only just taken up this post.

I should spend more time

getting to know my colleagues.

There is no need for such formality.

Yes.

How are you adjusting here?

After all, it's my job. I have no trouble adjusting.

Then why don't you sit down?

Governor. I am newly married.

My wife specially prepared roast lamb today.

If you don't mind, would you like to have a try?

I don't mean to boast,

but my wife's cooking is very good.

Clerk Gu, you should try some too.

See how it compares to the canteen food.

Thank you, Clerk Zhang.

- Please enjoy. - Thank you.

Your Highness.

Will you come back and eat with us?

Jin.

Tell Princess Ding

that I will go back for dinner.

Sink your energy into the Yongquan point.

Channel your strength to the Laogong point.

Where is the Laogong point?

In your palm.

Feet apart.

You're about to poke a hole in that bamboo slat.

Perhaps I drank too much last night,

so I can't hold myself up straight now.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Senior Brother.

This bamboo ring is bent unevenly after heating.

The whole ring leans to the right.

It will make all the rest

crooked and twisted.

You should shape it as you heat it.

Senior Brother, since when did you learn how to make kites?

Ji Niang has known how since she was little.

I learned it from her.

Why are you making a kite?

This is the homework assigned to Wu You by his teacher.

We're doing it for him.

Your moves are so slow.

Can we even hit anyone with your moves?

This is the Bahuang Fist.

An old Taoist priest

taught me this.

It can strengthen the body

and make you leap over walls.

But I heard from the servants

that you were scared of being beaten,

so you hid in our family's house.

I told you, this is for health.

To win a fight,

you have to use this.

You're lying!

- I am lying-- - Wu You, look!

A giant centipede!

Thank you, Aunt.

I got the centipede kite.

- Careful. - A giant centipede!

- Spin! Spin. - The centipede is flying!

A centipede!

Run!

The centipede is flying!

Uncle, look at me!

The centipede is flying!

Your Highness is back.

I promised Tao Er and Xing Er

that if my quartz flower blooms,

I would host a banquet.

Now that it has actually bloomed, it's a good omen.

So I thought we should gather together.

Everyone here is a member of this family.

Let's celebrate together today.

A toast to you all.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Please, eat.

Come on. Let's eat.

Such a grand banquet.

Did you make all the food yourself?

No, I didn't.

The family kitchen staff made it.

Lady Wen.

I have long heard of you.

After seeing you today, I think you are indeed gentle and warm,

with extraordinary grace.

I didn't expect that you've heard of me.

Actually, I'm the one who has often heard

that you're exceptionally gifted in Taoism.

I wouldn't say gifted.

I just know a little bit about the arts of divination.

Taoism is actually very simple.

It is like this stick of sandalwood.

Though its ashes yesterday have settled,

today,

its curling incense lingers still.

Tomorrow, we don't know if the wind will blow it out,

but it's all bound by cause and effect.

The fish yesterday wasn't fresh,

and you may not have the fish to eat tomorrow.

Third Uncle, just focus on the fish before you.

- Don't be naughty-- - Eat your meal.

One more word, and I'll send you back to the shop

to talk with that general.

Lady Wen, please have some fish.

Your Highness may not know.

There was never enough food and clothes in the mountain.

After the mountain was sealed,

we couldn't go to the market to shop.

We had to provide for ourselves with everything.

Life

was very difficult.

Over the years,

it hasn't been easy for Her Highness.

Fortunately, she met Your Highness.

You're now a couple of one mind.

The days ahead will surely get better and better.

Thank you for your good wishes.

By the way,

did you really

grow a flower on that stone?

- Do you want to see it? - Yes.

It's right there.

Look at this sprout. It's growing so well.

Good.

You... Your foot...

It used to have some problems, right?

That's right.

Her Highness cured my foot.

It's much better now.

Look.

Our Li is truly amazing.

She learned great skills on the mountain.

His Highness is lucky to have her.

Your Highness.

Where is Jin?

He went to make the hangover soup.

I'll go get a basin of water.

You should wash your face.

I'll leave it to you.

Your Highness.

Let me treat your legs.

You saw Brother Wei today.

He used to have a limp,

and I cured him.

During my years on Li Mountain,

I studied medicine under Master Helai.

I also learned pharmacology and acupuncture.

My main area of study was how to treat leg ailments.

Actually, your legs

can still feel.

You can kneel and sit.

You can bend them,

and they have subconscious reactions.

I can cure you.

I know

you've tried many treatments before,

seen many doctors,

and suffered a great deal.

But could you

try one more time for me?

Why are you looking at me like that?

I remember a book from Li Mountain Academy

called "Healing the Heart to Rule."

It says,

reflect in the mirror to straighten your attire,

and measure the grain to prepare your meals.

Cultivate your character within,

and practice kindness without.

Then you shall live a fulfilling life.

Ye Li,

after you left the mountain,

you helped your senior brother,

your third uncle,

Wu You,

and even my sister-in-law.

And it's my turn now?

What makes you think

you can help me?

Or rather,

what makes you think you're better than the imperial doctors

or those renowned doctors?

In this world,

those with overflowing kindness

rarely meet a good end.

If you don't want to be married to a cripple,

you can leave at any time.

[Tuisi House]

Wait!

I once received a favor from Prince Ding's family.

I wish to give General Mo a bowl of farewell wine before his execution.

Let her go.

I am Xu Wan Zhou's daughter.

She has a message for me to deliver.

She said she's sorry.

Why didn't she come herself?

She can't make it.

My mother said Li Mountain Academy owes you,

and we will find a way to compensate you.

Do you have any other wishes?

My brother.

They said

his legs were broken at Suixue Pass.

I am going to die,

but you must save him.

Okay.

I promise you.

Who is it?

I am passing by. The sun is hot and I'm thirsty.

I'd like to buy a bowl of wine in exchange for a person.

You're actually a lady?

Lady, who do you want to kill?

I don't want anything involving bloodshed.

I only ask that you kidnap someone for me.

[Head of Chixie Gang] [Zheng Qin] I want him alive.

You must not hurt him in the slightest.

However, he is of high status. I'm afraid you won't dare to do it.

You're insulting me.

I don't care about high status.

I only care about silver and gold.

Wait for my order to take action.

Officer Li.

The governor requests your presence.

The governor requests your presence. Hurry and move.

Yes.

You dared to play all your dirty tricks

in Jingzhao Prefecture, huh?

I didn't! I...

I don't know!

You don't know?

Well, I know very well.

Take a look.

Are the figures in this account book

correct?

You seized people's land,

faked accounts for profit,

and perverted the law for private gain.

Li Yu Feng.

You've been the Civil Officer of Jingzhao Prefecture for years.

Your monthly salary is high,

and so are your year-end bonuses.

You get paid from the taxes people pay,

yet you shamelessly exploit them.

You are a disgrace to the Jingzhao Office.

Li Yu Feng is corrupt and lawless.

Dismiss him

from his post as the Civil Officer now.

All his embezzled gains

will be seized and sealed,

pending further investigation.

Also, draft a report to the Ministry of Personnel at once.

The post of the Civil Officer of Jingzhao Prefecture

will be temporarily held by Clerk Gu Zheng.

As you command, Governor.

Wait! Wait!

Even if I have committed faults,

I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have been dismissed so easily.

Oh, right.

According to "Code of Chu," the dismissal of an official

must be reviewed by the Dali Court,

and co-signed by the Imperial Censorate.

Governor, if you dismiss me without permission,

I'm afraid it's against the rules.

Since I've taken the post of Governor of Jingzhao Prefecture,

I shall bear the responsibility.

In this place,

my word is the rule.

If you are not satisfied,

you are free to file a petition.

- Take him away. - No!

Your Highness!

Master Li,

this way, please.

Vice Governor, save me!

Vice Governor, save me!

Listen up, everyone.

I know exactly

what you are thinking.

You'd better give up on those thoughts.

Everyone,

as long as you fulfill your duties

with all your heart and soul,

I won't make things hard for you.

But if anyone

is negligent and perfunctory,

holding a post without doing any work,

I...

will certainly find a better replacement.

As for collusion

and corruption,

they will absolutely not be tolerated.

Yes.

- The fabric is great. - Let's buy some.

- Here. Take it. - Sure.

Take it. Bye.

- I want one of those too. - Sure.

Chi Hu?

Why are you following me?

It's my master's order.

He told me to bring you back.

Bring me back?

Do you have what it takes?

Back at the training grounds,

the head coach said,

"if an assassin is afraid to draw his blade,

he is destined to lose."

Don't you remember?

Go back and tell Han Ming Yue

that I will repay him for the cost of raising and saving me.

I am not his brother.

What's wrong?

Her Highness is here. She didn't want to disturb you.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I'm the Personnel Officer of Jingzhao Prefecture, Wei Cheng Li.

Well, it is very hot today.

Please, Your Highness, come inside for some tea.

I just brewed a pot of the finest Lushan Yunwu tea.

You can enjoy some tea

while you wait for the Governor.

No need to bother.

I'll just stay here and enjoy the sun.

Does Your Highness like grasshoppers?

That's perfect.

I have a painting at home by a great artist,

Master Wu, called "Insects Chirping on a Moonlit Night."

The grasshoppers in it are painted so vividly.

Next time...

No...

Your Highness.

Are you taking a break?

I came to see you.

I just remembered there are some minor matters to handle in the office.

I'll take my leave.

Are you looking for me?

I want you to go offer incense with me.

At Zhengyi Temple outside the city. It's very close.

If we go today, we can be back tomorrow.

Did you tell my sister-in-law?

I did.

She said her nephew is sick,

so she has to visit him.

No one would go with me,

so I came to ask you.

I'm very busy today.

I'm afraid I won't finish until late.

It's okay.

The weather is nice today,

and the scenery here is lovely.

I'll just sit here,

waiting for you while enjoying the view.

Just go back to work.

[Jingzhao Prefecture]

A Jin.

Take these to Gu Zheng.

Tell him to review them carefully.

I want his report by 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

It's so quiet outside.

Your Highness.

It's long past the end of your shift.

Why haven't you gone home yet?

Where is the Princess?

She left.

She went back to the manor.

It's late, after all.

As for offering incense, she can go any day.

Go and deliver these.

Yes.

[Prince Ding's Mansion]

I told you so.

Her Highness must be asleep by now.

While you bought the honey cakes, she can't eat them now.

They're yours then.

Thank you, Your Highness!

Your Highness.

Your Highness. Let's go catch butterflies.

That's boring.

I heard Jinxiu Workshop launched some new silks.

How about we go to buy some new clothes?

I don't want to go.

Your Highness.

Jinxiu Workshop launched some new silks.

How about we go to buy some new clothes?

Go by yourself.

I have things to do these days.

I'll be very busy.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Then are we still going?

Of course not!

How about I go to wake her up for you?

Your Highness?

Your Highness.

Wake up. His Highness brought you some treats.

Your Highness.

If you don't get up, I'll eat the honey cakes for you.

Your Highness, is Her Highness not inside?

Yao, you're back. What are you doing?

Sister-in-law.

I bought some honey cakes.

I wanted to see if Li wants some.

Li went to Zhengyi Temple. She's not back yet.

She went to Zhengyi Temple?

When did she go?

She's been gone for three or four days.

Didn't she tell you?

Blessings to you.

Thank you, Taoist Priest.

[Zhengyi Temple]

That's not right.

The Goddess

shouldn't be smiling.

The ghosts of hell are also in the same universe.

The Goddess is compassionate.

Seeing them suffer such punishment,

of course, she feels sorrowful.

I think the Goddess should look sorrowful.

Yun Song, don't rush.

The ghosts of hell committed many evils in their lives.

Getting punished here is their just retribution.

They reap what they sow.

Only by paying off their karmic debts

and settling their past causes

can they transcend.

The Goddess has already transcended.

She realizes the laws of nature and the universe.

Seeing sinful souls pay for their crimes

and get their chances for rebirth,

she naturally feels comforted that everyone is saved.

Thus, she smiles with joy.

Nonsense!

How can a Goddess smile while watching living beings suffer?

Master Du, you are wrong.

What do you know?

She realizes the laws of nature and the universe.

Knowing that consequences and retribution are certain,

one can then transcend the world.

What is she doing?

You... Stop it!

Get down from there!

Only by not contending

can one transcend the world.

Your Highness.

Smiling yet not smiling,

weeping yet not weeping.

Both merciful and solemn.

Brilliant!

Someone is quite capable.

She dared to go up the mountain alone,

without coming home for four or five days.

Do you still remember that you're married?

No one is managing the household affairs.

You just left without a word.

If I hadn't come,

how long did you plan to stay?

Did you even plan to go back?

Do you know that I...

You what?

I didn't just leave without a word.

I sent a letter to our mansion,

saying I'd return after finishing the mural.

And I didn't come here alone.

Brother Wei came with me.

If anything happened,

I'm sure he would take care of me.

Besides,

I'm here for important things.

What important things?

Painting a mural?

Someone came to Shende House

and offered a high price for a painting by Yun Song Zi.

I knew he was here, so I hurried over.

Yun Song Zi?

The one who wrote "Drunken Moon Poem?"

That's him.

I heard he travels the world all year round, writing poems and painting.

Why would he be here?

About two years ago, he traveled to this place

and fell asleep drunk in the main hall.

That night, he had a dream.

In the dream, he entered a mystical realm.

He saw thousands of ghosts being tortured,

wailing in deep sorrow.

It was a true scene of hell.

Until the Goddess descended,

a beam of heavenly light shone down,

and all the living beings were saved from suffering.

That's the mural you're painting.

Yes.

He believed that by painting the Goddess,

he could save the people from their misery.

But it was a massive undertaking.

It has taken two years to paint.

During these two years, many scholars heard about him and came here,

discussing poetry and making friends,

painting and drinking.

When I arrived,

it was already nearing completion.

I was supposed to finish tonight

and head down the mountain tomorrow.

I didn't expect Your Highness to rush here at the same time.

Princess Ding...

They don't know I'm Princess Ding.

When we're here, just call me Miss Ye.

Miss Ye.

Do you know

what Xiu Yao was trying to say just now?

I don't know.

He wanted to say

that someone in his mansion is waiting for you.

He was so worried last night that he tossed and turned, unable to sleep at all.

If the city gates hadn't been locked,

he would have hitched a carriage

and rushed here in the middle of the night.

Really?

Don't listen to his nonsense.

Have you packed your things?

If we head down the mountain now,

we can make it back before the gates lock.

I can't leave tonight.

Why?

I haven't received his painting yet.

Yun Song Zi said he'd finish it tonight

and give it to me tomorrow morning.

Your Highness,

let's stay for one more night.

Fine.

Is this the only empty room?

Zhengyi Temple is not a large place.

And many scholars are here.

Others are squeezed four or five to a room.

This wing room

was specially vacated for me.

Besides, we are husband and wife.

Do we have to sleep in separate rooms?

I'll do it myself.

Then let me help you undress.

Just leave it there.

Your clothes aren't straight.

Let me help you.

Does it smell good?

This morning, I washed my hair with orchids.

The scent is very subtle.

If you're not in a rush tomorrow morning,

I'll pick more orchids on the back hill

so you can take a bath with them, too.

No need.

Go to bed. It's late.

Alright.

You're not sleeping?

I'll read for a while.

What are you reading?

"Travels Across the Four Seas."

[On the Next Episode]

Mother,

you said you hoped that one day,

I would find a good husband.

I have found him.

If you can see this from the afterlife,

[Xu Wan Zhou's Grave] you can finally rest in peace.

You are that doctor's disciple.

If you really cannot speak,

can you get someone else here for me?