Original subtitles

[Episode 13]

Do you feel better now?

My hands might be a bit cold.

They are not cold.

Hang on for a second.

You've been busy all day.

You should go to bed and rest.

I feel much better now.

It's only the second watch.

The pain will get worse in the middle of the night.

Master Helai taught me this massage technique.

It focuses on penetrating the muscles without hurting the bones.

This massage will make you feel better.

With these plasters, you should feel more comfortable tonight.

Are you leaving?

I'll stay with you a while longer.

Do you feel cold?

A little.

Why don't you sit up here?

It's been rainy lately, and the night air is chilly.

I am afraid you might...

It's so warm.

Actually, I like sneezing.

Why?

Because it means someone is thinking of me. Someone is missing me.

Nonsense.

Mo Xiu Yao.

Do you have a nickname?

For example, my name is Ye Li.

Those close to me call me Li.

I always call you Your Highness. Sometimes, I call you by your full name.

It feels distant. It feels like we aren't close.

My father and mother used to call me Yao.

My brother and sister-in-law called me Yao, too.

Then I'll call you Yao as well.

Alright.

Yao.

Yao.

Yao.

Yao. Yao.

I heard you.

Yao.

Have I ever told you that there are many things I want to do

after I leave the mountain this time?

What do you want to do?

I want to eat lots of delicious food,

take back my mother's shops,

and find my senior brother.

And...

And help your senior brother cut his tree.

I've already cut the tree.

And help you stand up and make you happy.

Your Highness.

There is a decree from the palace.

Greetings, Prince Ding.

By order of the Empress Dowager, Prince Ding is summoned to the palace.

I heard a few days ago that Princess Ding accidentally got hurt.

Is everything fine with her now?

Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Princess Ding is fine now.

Good to know.

If she still feels unwell, bring the imperial doctors over to check on her.

They can take the chance and check on your legs as well.

She is still injured, but her mind is all about your leg treatment.

Such a trivial family matter has actually come to Your Majesty's attention.

It's not a trivial matter that you restart the leg treatment.

Of course, I should pay attention.

Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.

May I ask why Your Majesty summoned me here today?

I do have something to tell you.

It's actually an old case.

You should know about the assassination of Yuan Fang.

Yuan Fang was a key official, yet he was killed in the Capital outskirts.

It was said that the bandits killed him, but I don't believe that at all.

I also know that these days, there has been much talk in court.

They indicated that Marquis Muyang is related to this case.

What do you think?

The court is a game played in the dark.

It's hard to read the situation.

But the players always know what they are doing.

I think Commissioner Yuan's case involves many parties.

But it all comes down to someone benefiting from it.

Yuan Fang was an upright official, possessing nothing but his integrity.

Back then, he went to Huaixi to investigate the arms case and exhausted all his efforts.

The death of such a loyal man not only made me heartbroken,

but also shocked the entire court.

I am now entrusting this case to your full supervision.

His Majesty trusts you, and so do I.

Remember this.

No matter who is involved,

I only want the truth to come to light.

As you command.

[Ye's Mansion]

My Lord, take your medicine.

You were doing just fine before. What has been wrong with you lately?

She's here.

She's here.

Who?

Who is here?

If you ask when you shall meet again,

I'll say only in a dream at the third watch.

This person no longer lives in this world.

Her Majesty asked you to investigate Yuan Fang's death?

It may not be Marquis Muyang's doing?

Marquis Muyang has been exceptionally arrogant these past few years.

He has long grown apart from Her Majesty.

I don't think they still completely trust each other.

But investigating this case won't do us any harm.

Investigate it secretly. Don't alert the enemy.

If you need the Jingzhao Office's help, you can contact Clerk Gu.

Yuan Fang's case is very suspicious.

I'm afraid there's more to it.

Alright.

I'll investigate the case.

Now that we're done with Yuan Fang's case,

let's talk about your legs.

This is very serious.

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

How is it? Do they still hurt now?

Much better.

That's good.

Her Highness is truly amazing.

She found a way to treat your legs so soon.

As your best friend for many years, I feel so ashamed.

Get away. Get away before I kick you.

I'm leaving.

Rest well.

As long as there's improvement, your suffering will be worth it.

I'm leaving.

I have some matters of the Jingzhao Office to report.

Go ahead.

The grain embezzlement case before is closed.

The rats in the granary and the crazy bandits were all just excuses.

In reality, the transport official inserted reed pipes into the sacks at Ba Bridge.

When the grain boats hit the Ba River bends,

they pretended to drop anchor and stall,

claiming it was a ritual for the River God, but they were actually stealing grain.

Most of the old cases have been handled.

And there are some new cases.

Huaizhen Ward is far from the water. We need to dig seven wells.

There's a fire at the Chang Building recently, ruining many houses.

They need to be rebuilt. But all of this requires your funding.

Go on.

This census document requires your personal review.

Your Highness. Your Highness. Someone is here.

- Who is it? - Your father is here.

Father, what brings you here?

You've been married for a while, but you didn't even return on the maiden home visit day.

So I just wanted to come and see you.

In the two months since I returned from Li Mountain,

I rarely saw you.

Now that I'm married, you've actually started to miss me, Father.

It was the end of the year back then. I was busy with household affairs.

What brings you here today, Father?

Actually, I came today to ask you about something.

Is your mother doing well?

My mother has been dead for eight years.

Marquis Muyang.

Guard Qin, you have been gone to Cangbei

to work for Marquis Muyang for three months.

It must have been hard on you.

Marquis Muyang, you seem worried.

Everyone suspects that I killed Yuan Fang.

I'm plagued by bad luck.

Nothing is going my way.

How is everything going with you?

Very well. The political situation in Cangbei is unstable.

There is a high demand for bows and arrows.

Thank you.

Stay here for a few more days.

Yes.

Now, Lu Zhi, Chen Fen Yuan, and Tian Feng

have been killed one after another.

Even Lu Chang Fu ended up the same.

Heng Yuan.

All these years, you have been very diligent.

I always keep it in mind.

However, while you can handle court affairs,

there are some things that only Qin Cang can do.

Marquis Muyang, you have great foresight.

I can't compare to you.

Father. Father!

- Father... - Young Lord.

- Guard Qin? - Young Lord.

You're back?

After a few months,

[Zhou Tian Yang] your skin is lighter, and you are stronger.

I heard from Father that you went home to see your family.

How is it? Is everything alright with your family?

Thank you for your concern, Young Lord. Everything is fine.

That's good.

Father, look!

I caught two fish.

Naughty boy. You've gotten yourself all dirty.

Listen, I went to the reed marshes today,

set three buckets of bait, and caught two black carp.

They're big and fat, especially this first one.

After I teased the float,

as soon as the rod tip touched the water, the float suddenly sank.

We'll have a fish feast tonight.

Good.

Look at your nose. It's so dirty.

Careful, or the fish demon will eat you up.

Guard Qin!

Guard Qin!

Guard Qin.

Guard Qin, you'll be staying in the Capital for a while.

You'll need a comfortable residence.

I happen to have an old house in the west of the city.

Although it's a bit old, it's well-preserved.

It's a three-courtyard house.

The location is excellent, and it's close to Marquis Muyang's mansion.

I appreciate your kindness, Port Trade Commissioner.

However, I've already found a place to stay. I won't trouble you.

Guard Qin! Wait for me!

Young Lord.

Guard Qin, you're in such a hurry.

Father has suddenly gone vegetarian.

He won't even eat the fish.

So I think, since you have time now after you're back,

why don't you stay and go drinking with me at the brothel?

I've had a long and exhausting journey. I'm quite tired.

Fine.

You're Father's favorite now.

I can't be too willful with you.

This black carp is yours now.

I don't like fish.

That's perfect.

I happen to love fresh fish.

Why don't you give it to me instead?

Fine.

Thank you, Young Lord.

My Lord.

My Lord?

No matter how urgent it is, your health comes first.

You haven't eaten for half a day.

Where did My Lord go today?

Madam, Second Master went to Prince Ding's Mansion at noon.

Don't come near me! Go away!

My Lord, it's me. It's me.

Don't be afraid, it's me.

Don't be afraid. It's alright.

Don't be afraid.

It's alright.

Place it here.

Be quiet.

Trust me. Place it here.

Here.

Why did you place it here, Mother?

Are you sure?

I shouldn't place it here?

If you place it here, you will lose this whole section.

You should have listened to me. Place it here.

In that case, you'll lose even faster.

Watch this.

Look.

We're done with this.

Mother, don't play chess with her.

It's just chess. You won't play because you lose?

Aunt, you're a monster. No one wants to play with you.

Wu You. Don't talk nonsense.

It's because we're bad at chess.

Sister-in-law, you're not bad at chess. Let's play another round.

Sure.

What are you playing? It's so lively here.

Yao, you're here.

- We're playing chess. - Uncle.

Li is so good at chess. Neither Wu You nor I is a match for her.

Do you want to give it a try?

Uncle, don't. She's a fierce player.

Really?

I didn't expect you to be such a chess expert.

I wouldn't say I'm an expert. I just know some basics.

Yao, you haven't played chess for a long time.

Really?

I look forward to learning from Your Highness.

Alright. Bring it on.

Are you sure?

Why ask?

Aren't you going to think it over?

Focus on the game. You talked too much.

I told you already. Aunt is a monster.

No one can beat her.

Don't say that.

His Highness was just being careless, and I just took advantage of that.

Again.

It's getting late. I'll go check on the kitchen.

- Let's go. - I'm not going!

Hurry up.

- I want to watch them play! - Go!

I'll go prepare some snacks.

Stop watching.

- Your Highness, I... - You also want to go?

You are indeed good at chess.

As expected of someone from Li Mountain Academy.

You flatter me, Your Highness.

I was bored on the mountain,

so I spent all day playing chess against myself and became better.

There were so many people on Li Mountain.

Why did you play chess against yourself?

They thought I was terrible, so they didn't want to play with me.

You know swordsmanship?

What?

Your move just now held hidden skills.

It's professional swordsmanship.

Me? Swordsmanship?

Show me your hand.

Swordsmanship focuses on thrusting.

It requires an adaptable grip and finger work to control the blade.

The flower-shaped calluses on your thumb and index finger are so thick.

It's clear you've practiced the sword for a long time.

I've never heard of that.

What about those who use sabers?

Do their calluses grow in different places?

Saber techniques involve more hacking. Its pressure point is different.

Of course, the calluses are different.

I used to practice with a saber.

The calluses grew on my palms.

I don't see any.

It's been so long since I last practiced.

So you know swordsmanship.

You know martial arts, don't you?

You are wrong this time.

I didn't get the calluses from swordsmanship.

I got them from doing chores.

Li Mountain Academy has been closed for eight years.

We had to handle our own food and clothing.

I had to grow food, weave fabric, pick tea leaves,

even chop wood, hunt, and deal with clothing things.

There was a lot to do.

There were so many people on the mountain.

But why did you have to do all those chores?

More people meant more chores.

Someone of your noble status wouldn't get it.

Your Highnesses.

First Madam said the food is ready.

She asked you to go for lunch.

Your Highness.

Master Feng is here again.

What is it?

As Your Highness instructed,

I actually have some findings.

Of course, I could be mistaken.

Your Highness, maybe give me three more days.

- Hand it over. - I--

Give it to me.

She hired someone to assassinate herself?

Yes.

Her Highness hired Zheng Qin of Chixie Gang.

He was close to Lu Chang Fu before.

The fire that killed the Seven Men of Li Mountain was his doing.

Li Mountain Academy has a blood feud with him.

Why did Her Highness hire him?

Did she want to use you to eliminate him?

That's truly killing two birds with one stone.

Keep investigating.

Investigate what?

False in one, false in all.

Have you ever seen a liar who only tells one lie?

And now that I think about it carefully,

I found that ever since she left the mountain, many things have happened.

Lv Cheng lost his life because of a name.

Lu Chang Fu died in a fire.

Yuan Fang was saved at Suixue Pass.

All of them are closely related to Li Mountain Academy.

I think you're overthinking it.

I'm overthinking it?

The Heiyun Cavalry entered the Capital without a decree.

Suixue Pass fell.

My brother died a tragic, wrongful death.

It was all because we took it too simply.

You, I, and my family

are all walking on a tightrope.

One mistake, and we'll be totally ruined.

But I don't even know what my princess is doing.

How can I be at ease?

True.

It was indeed inappropriate for Her Highness to do this.

But she didn't mean to harm you.

See, she went through all this trouble just to treat your legs, right?

That remains to be seen.

Feng Zhi Yao is still here?

He's already left.

Your Highness.

- Is His Highness inside? - Yes.

Why didn't you light the lamp?

The medicine is ready. Please take it.

What's wrong?

Is it wrong?

So, after we returned from Zhengyi Temple,

you really hired someone to kidnap yourself?

No wonder they knew our whereabouts so well.

They had every advantage, yet they didn't go for a kill.

Because it was your doing. I was truly a fool.

I never expected that you would be the one behind this.

Ye Li.

Why did you do that?

Your Highness, do you really not know why I did it?

You did it for me?

Your Highness is so wise.

You tricked me like a fool.

I was so anxious those few days that I couldn't even eat.

I'm not wise at all.

Your leg injury has been left untreated for so many years.

I mentioned it several times, but you never let me try to treat it.

I had no other choice but to do this to push you.

Then I should thank you for your effort.

Yao.

I never meant to harm you.

Indeed, it was all for my own good.

I'm a cripple.

I'm a fallen noble who has lost all power.

But I am favored by a descendant of Li Mountain Academy.

What an honor.

To treat my leg,

you planned so meticulously and even risked your own life.

You taught me a proper lesson, so I'd realize my mistake.

How incredibly touching.

And here I am, being ungrateful.

I have truly failed your sincere efforts.

Don't say that.

Everyone knows what happened to my brother.

He received an imperial decree to take the troops back to the Capital.

But when he arrived, the late emperor had passed away.

He was convicted of treason and lost his life.

And no one knew where that imperial decree was.

It was because he trusted people so easily.

He handed over the decree.

He wanted to prove he didn't want to rebel.

But he was accused of entering the Capital without a decree.

He was sentenced to death.

See?

This is the price of trusting others.

I didn't.

Jin.

My Lady.

It's alright.

It will be alright.

But if the late emperor's decree has already been destroyed,

what should we do?

Then we'll reveal the truth step by step.

Your Highness?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

What time is it?

It's a quarter past seven.

Where is His Highness?

He's in his room. It seems he's going to the office.

Jin went to take care of him.

He's still recovering. Why did he go to the office?

I don't know either.

By the way, Your Highness, today is Madam's birthday.

The gifts are all ready.

Are we going to Ye's Mansion?

Yes.

Help me get dressed.

Yes.

Put me down!

I'm here to save you.

But if you fall, I won't be able to help.

Young General, they're trying to escape!

In their dreams!

None of them can escape! After them!

Yes.

As the Commissioner of the Capital Guards,

you shouldn't have acted so recklessly.

Was I supposed to just watch those bandits slaughter an innocent caravan?

You could have come back to report to me.

By the time you arrived, they would have been long dead.

If Father were here today, would you dare talk back to him like that?

You can't be compared to Father.

Xiu Wen led the Heiyun Cavalry into the Capital without a decree.

The Cangbei army seized the chance and took three cities in a row.

Yao, you were too impulsive.

If you had stayed at Suixue Pass, it wouldn't have come to this.

Your Highness.

Her Highness has left for Ye's Mansion.

Then, should I still send the birthday gifts we prepared earlier?

You quarreled with His Highness, right?

Then why didn't he come with you?

It's nothing like that.

Don't worry, Third Uncle.

As long as you didn't quarrel.

The art of marriage is hard and complicated.

Third Uncle, you aren't even married.

How would you know about that?

You don't need to live it to know it.

I've run Changsheng Shop for years.

I've crossed paths with all the noblewomen in the Capital.

I've heard many of their secrets.

Do you know? Some of them...

It's even hard to mention it.

Li Er, you are married now.

From now on, you should learn the art of marriage from the daily details.

It's not something you can learn from the old masters of Li Mountain Academy.

You pry into their secrets and use them as your own experience.

It's definitely not something I can learn from the academy masters.

You're really good at applying what you've heard.

I remember that you studied under Master Xian Kun?

Wait. My teacher didn't teach me that.

This is... This is my experience from my years of traveling.

My experience.

But speaking of which,

if I hadn't left home back then,

I would never have let you and your mother be sent away.

People come and go, just as the moon has its cycles.

It's all fate. It is only normal.

I won't force it to go my way, so you don't need to blame yourself.

Mother.

Mother. Mother.

What's wrong? Wait for me.

Mother!

Mother! Mother!

Mother, what's wrong? Don't scare me, Mother!

A Ding, stop the carriage!

Hurry! Doctor, please hurry!

Hua.

- Give me the late emperor's decree. - Let go of me!

Give it to me. Let go of me!

Let go of me! Or Prince Ding's family will be ruined because of us.

Mother.

Don't worry. Calm down.

I'll go to see Father.

I'll get the decree back!

It's said somewhere in the world, the sun will die.

But Mother once told me that the sun will never die.

It just stays in the hearts of those who light the darkness with their lives.

- Li Er, what's wrong? - Your Highness.

What happened? Why did you run away?

Let's go.

Let's go home.

What?

Hold this. Li Er.

What did you see?

[On the Next Episode]

You dare hit me?

Why wouldn't I dare?

I haven't even touched you yet.

- Don't cry. - Li Er.

You must keep it well. Come with me.

Do you want the whole family to die with you?

- Ye Wen Ding! - Move!

Give me the late emperor's decree!

Mother.