Original subtitles

[Episode 18]

- Drink your soup first. - Go over there first.

You have to rewrite it now.

Leave it to me.

Luckily, the inside isn't wet.

Just sit down.

Stop making a mess.

Drink your soup first.

Is Qing Shuang here?

Are you looking for her?

I'll call her for you.

No need.

What are your plans for today?

I'm going to Shende House after I finish this letter.

I'll go with you.

Is it your day off again?

I'll head to the office this afternoon.

I've never been to your Shende House.

It's family property, after all. I should go take a look.

"Family property?"

That's the dowry my mother left me.

I already gave you all I had.

But I didn't give you mine.

That's rather stingy of you.

Fine.

Even if it's your private property, there's no harm in my taking a look.

Shall I have Jin mail that for you?

No need. Qing Shuang will handle it.

Qing Shuang is quite capable.

Better than someone who only causes trouble.

Let's go. Aren't we going to check the shop?

Thank you in advance.

Your Highness has gained weight lately.

The food must agree with you.

Or you have neglected your exercise.

Push properly.

Are you scared?

I'm just afraid you'll fall.

If you're scared, I'll go slower.

He's twitching. Look.

Was he hit by something?

His lips are turning purple.

Whose worker is this?

What should we do?

Just now, a falling crate hit him in the chest.

Look!

His chest is swollen,

like an inflated wineskin.

A wineskin?

Sir. What should we do?

Is there a physician here?

Please move aside.

Purple lips, labored breathing, distended neck veins.

The crate damaged his lungs.

His heart and lungs are injured.

His airway is blocked. Delay any longer and he'll die.

Open his right collar.

Young lady, how can you undress a man here?

- Exactly! - In broad daylight...

How improper!

Stop this nonsense!

Hurry!

It's life and death.

Press between his ribs.

- Will this work? - Stabbing him?

The air is out, but the wound isn't sealed.

Keep him lying flat and move him gently.

Get him to a clinic within seven minutes.

If his lung ruptures again, even immortals can't save him.

Come.

They are truly inseparable.

The accounts are complicated. Can you understand?

Your Highness, do you know who wrote "Essentials of Arithmetic"?

One of your masters?

Master Chen of Li Mountain Academy.

Your master wrote it, not you.

So, can you read the ledgers?

Her Highness is very gifted.

Back when we were at Li Mountain,

Master Chen often said that although Her Highness was young,

when it came to accounts and calculations,

her skills surpassed all of us seniors.

Senior Brother, enough flattering me.

You manage so many shops.

It's busy and exhausting work.

You deserve praise too.

You flatter me, Your Highness.

But to be honest, affairs at these shops grow more complicated lately.

I can't handle it all on my own anymore.

I think it's time to hire more hands.

Just do as you see fit.

Go on with your work. No need to stay here with me.

I'll take my leave.

By the way, this is the book Your Highness asked for.

Thank you, Senior Brother.

After the ledgers, is there anything else planned?

Nothing much.

Then in a bit, come to the office with me.

You're going on duty.

What would I do there?

Keep me company.

I don't want to.

The Jingzhao Office is too boring.

But I've accompanied you to your shop.

I didn't ask you to.

You insisted on coming.

You...

Master Feng.

Brother Wei.

Please, come in.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Your Highness passed by without entering Qingfeng Mingyue Tower.

Why?

What?

I'm here to check on my family business.

Must I report to you?

Your family business?

You've run Jinbao House for six years,

yet I've never seen you visit even once.

Times have changed.

Your Highness, I advise you to be careful.

Some people cherish you one moment and change completely the next.

When they think highly of you,

they praise you as a business genius.

They'd even entrust their life to you.

But when they don't,

they'll turn around and hand it all over to curry favor with someone else.

Oh, what a busy life I lead.

Your Highness, look at me.

What do I have in my hands?

Nothing at all.

That's right.

Completely empty.

So... you must be careful.

Are you done watching?

Let's go. It's time for duty.

All right.

We haven't seen each other for days.

Let's chat a bit more.

Your Highness, this is your family business.

Come back and visit often.

You are truly noble and gifted physicians.

I thank you on behalf of the patient.

You have blood on your clothes.

If you don't mind, please follow me inside to clean up.

Very well.

Your blade is unusual, young lady.

It looks like a triangular blade from the southwest.

You have a keen eye.

I saw how calm you were just now.

Do you know medicine?

Late last autumn,

I stayed in a southwestern village for about a month.

I learned a few things from shamans there.

That's how I learned about pneumothorax.

It's not a fatal condition.

Air gets trapped in the chest.

It can suffocate a person to death.

Were you in the Chishui Valley region?

Yes.

How did you know?

That place is thousands of miles from anywhere.

- Have you been there? - Yes.

I went there on business.

When?

Early this spring.

What a coincidence.

I had just left when you arrived.

Did you happen to visit the Qianxing Inn outside the valley?

Their snake gallbladder wine is sharp and potent.

Ever since I left, I've been craving it.

I stayed there for two days.

The innkeeper happened to give birth.

All snake gallbladder wine was half-price.

Are you all right?

When I was there last year, she hadn't given birth yet.

Her belly was huge.

Quick, tell me.

Are the mother and child safe?

A boy or a girl?

How much did the baby weigh?

They're both safe. It's a girl.

Excuse me.

The patient is out of danger.

His wife is here to look after him.

They're melon farmers and rather poor.

They truly have no money to repay you.

To show her gratitude, she brought their home-grown melons as a token of appreciation.

Money can't beat these melons.

I'm glad you don't mind.

Try some.

Young lady, this blade...

I've wiped it. It's clean.

Back in the southwest, I ran into wolves.

I used this very blade to kill them.

Then I used it to slice meat.

"Illness enters through the mouth?"

It's pure fastidiousness.

A person has to be tough to live a free life.

Melons cut with a triangular blade taste sweeter.

I told you it was sweet.

[Ren'an Clinic]

It's getting late.

Indeed.

Then I... I'll take my leave.

Don't move.

And don't speak.

Since you've been to Chishui Valley,

you should know there is an unwritten custom there.

"Love at first sight. Three days to decide."

If you still have me on your mind after three days,

then come find me at this address.

We met by chance.

I don't even... I don't even know your name.

My name is Lin Ting Lan.

"Ting" as in to listen. "Lan" as in waves.

As for your name, tell me the next time we meet.

You've read all of these?

"The Wandering Warrior."

"Tales of Baocang Mountain."

Stories of heroes and beauties?

I just can't get into them.

Luckily, I brought my own.

Let me see what you brought, then.

"Studies on the Armillary Sphere."

"On the Taichu Calendar." You know astronomy?

Only the basics.

The heavens have their laws.

The sun, moon, and stars all move in their own order.

For example, the Seven-Planet Alignment.

They say it's once in a century.

In fact, each star has a different cycle.

The intervals between alignments aren't fixed.

Many factors affect them.

Also, Mars in Scorpius, Venus visible by day, and Lunar Occultation.

These events can be predicted through calculations,

including the best time and location for observation.

That's impressive.

Keep reading.

I'll check the documents.

Your Highness, please enjoy.

What's wrong?

I calculated an interesting event.

It should happen within the next few days.

The next few days?

Anything more precise... I can't figure it out.

Do you need my help?

No.

Really?

You think I'm clueless, don't you?

Get some sleep.

What's the matter?

What's the matter with you?

You've been acting strange today.

How so?

You're suddenly so nice to me.

Did I treat you badly before?

Li.

Now that you're in the manor, do you still feel lonely?

No. There are many people here.

Why do you ask, Your Highness?

Have you never felt lonely?

No.

What about at Li Mountain?

Li Mountain?

There were so many people there.

Every morning, it took forever just to prepare meals.

I barely had enough time to sleep.

How could I be lonely?

What are you doing?

What's going on?

Your Highness, have you eaten anything unusual today?

Just my usual meals.

Though if anything was unusual, I ate some creeping figs this afternoon.

It was new to me, so I ate a lot.

Your Highness, when you ate it before, did you feel any discomfort?

I've never eaten it before.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, there is no need to worry.

In my humble opinion, Her Highness has a food allergy.

The rash has appeared, but it's nothing serious.

How should it be treated?

Your Highness.

She must avoid eating it again and scratching the rash.

Drink plenty of water, and she will recover in a few days.

Thank you.

Your Highness, the flower petals are ready.

Qing Yu, why is this water so hot?

It's not hot, Your Highness. I just checked.

It is hot. Come try it.

This...

That shouldn't be.

How could it be hot?

Fooled you!

Don't splash my dress!

Spare me, Your Highness.

Join me in the hot spring.

No way!

Don't scratch. Physician Guan specifically warned us.

It will leave scars.

But it's really itchy.

Qing Yu is right.

If you scratch it open, you'll end up covered in scars.

It's not that serious.

It's just a few small rashes.

You're overreacting.

Are you a physician?

I am.

Come.

Sit in the sun with me.

All right.

Remember, don't scratch it no matter what.

Endure it and you'll be fine tomorrow.

Don't worry.

Qing Shuang will stay with me.

Qing Shuang?

Qing Shuang will sleep with me tonight.

What did you say?

I'm staying.

No more separate rooms.

No...

No more separate rooms?

That's right.

Li.

We've been married for some time now.

Before, my health wasn't good,

and I didn't know your heart.

But now, those concerns no longer exist.

We should consummate our marriage.

Why?

What do you mean, "why"?

Since we are husband and wife, sharing a bed is only natural, isn't it?

But we haven't before.

Didn't I just explain the reason?

I was physically unwell before, and I didn't know your feelings.

What is it?

Are you unwilling?

It's not that I'm unwilling.

Since there's no issue, let's turn in early.

You really fell asleep.

Stop scratching.

It's almost healed.

You're not feeling well today.

Don't overthink things.

Rest early.

Go on.

I was about to sleep.

But you were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you.

What are you smiling at?

Li, are you happy today?

Yes, I am.

Then I hope that in the future, you will be as happy as you are today.

And I will, just like today, stay by your side every day.

Let the past die with yesterday.

Let the future be born with today.

Li, you lost your mother.

And I lost my father and brother.

From now on, we are each other's family.

Whether the road ahead is stormy,

smooth, or filled with thorns,

I will always be with you.

You will never be alone again.

Don't say any more.

When I'm healed, I want to hear it all again.

Go to sleep.

Officer Gu.

You arrested my soldier without even a word of notice.

If I don't get a clear explanation,

don't blame me for being merciless!

Calm down, Officer Wang.

Officer Gu follows due procedures.

However...

If he really arrested an officer without any evidence,

I will ask the Governor for an explanation.

I'll let you all know that the laws of the imperial court are not a joke!

Calm down, Officer Wang.

Vice Governor Zheng, thank you.

The Governor himself ordered the arrest.

As for the reason...

Qiu Xian, Corporal of the Military Section.

His annual salary is only twenty guan.

The Tax Section records it clearly.

His family has no assets for three generations.

The household register of Wannian County also records this very clearly.

The Tax Section checked his market records.

He had no large income for three years.

This man has a meager salary, no inheritance, and no side business.

Then, a year ago, how did he buy that three-courtyard house in Anye District?

The Governor noticed the anomaly,

so he ordered the Tax and Justice Sections to conduct a joint investigation.

Following the clues,

I found that on the night we chased Chi Hu in Penglai Alley,

he indeed disappeared midway for nearly half an hour.

He only returned after the target escaped.

Several of his comrades have testified,

we have military logs and patrol maps from that night as proof.

The evidence is irrefutable.

Officer Wang, is this enough evidence?

Can we arrest him now?

Qiu Xian.

What's written here...

Is any of it false?

Speak! What exactly is going on?

You scoundrel!

Speak up!

Where did the money come from?

Who did you meet that night?

If you dare hide anything else,

not even the gods can save your miserable life!

[Meng's Ritual Supplies]

Jingzhao Office, arrest him.

Kill anyone who resists.

Officer.

Please spare me.

I'm just an incense vendor.

Behave yourself. Answer what you're asked,

and you'll avoid physical pain.

I really am just an incense vendor.

Save your breath.

Speak! Who put you up to this?

Who was your contact?

Hand over the list!

I'll talk. Have mercy.

I'll get the list for you right now, officer.

Your Highness. Urgent report from Jingzhao.

Your Highness.

Over there.

The traitor is my subordinate, Qiu Xian.

The day we chased Chi Hu,

he went to a ritual supplies shop in the West Market to tip them off.

We rushed there and caught the manager,

but before we could interrogate him, he committed suicide.

By the way, Governor, Officer Gu said he's from the Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace?

Officer Gu checked the records.

The manager was Chen Bing, once a registrar at the Palace's Catering Bureau.

After the Eastern Palace fire eight years ago, he was exiled.

It was reported that he died on the way to exile.

But who would have thought that a man meant for the underworld

was hiding in the Capital, selling ritual supplies for eight years?

It seems Yuan Fang's death is tied to the Eastern Palace.

Was Vice Governor Zheng at that shop just now?

Yes.

This Vice Governor Zheng...

Ten years ago, he served in the Ministry of Rites.

He often went to the Eastern Palace on official business.

With his sharp eyes, he couldn't have failed to recognize Chen Bing.

I suspect he is also involved.

Find out where he went tonight.

Yes.

Let's go to Prince Li's Mansion.

Chen Bing committed suicide on the spot.

That is how it happened.

It seems Mo Jing Li killed Yuan Fang to drive a wedge between me and the Empress Dowager.

The young Emperor took the chance to seize power.

When two contend, the third benefits.

What is Mo Jing Li planning?

Zhao Ting.

Gather my guards. We're going to Prince Li's Mansion.

Yes.

Your Highness, you must survive no matter what.

The Crown Prince died unjustly.

Marquis Muyang and the Empress Dowager started the fire.

Hold onto your hatred and live on.

Move all of this out. Hurry!

Your Highness! Let go of me!

- Let go of Her Highness! - Let go!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, what's happening?

Why is the mansion in such chaos?

Tell me, Your Highness!

Secretary Sui, didn't I order you to escort her back to the Ye's Mansion?

Your Highness, I did send men to...

I'm not going back!

Your Highness, I'm not leaving.

I want to stay with you.

Tell me what's going on.

We can face it together.

I have failed you.

Be good and leave.

If Heaven shows mercy, perhaps we shall meet again one day.

Your Highness, I'm not leaving.

Was it that night...

Take Her Highness away.

Let go of me!

- Let go! - Let go of Her Highness!

- Your Highness! - Let go of her!

How dare you! I'm not leaving, Your Highness!

- Let go! - Let go!

- Matron. - Let's go.

I'm not leaving, Matron.

- Be good. - Matron, I'm not leaving!

Your Highness, please listen to His Highness.

It's safest to go to the Ye's Mansion now.

No, he is hiding something from me.

Something must have happened.

I can't leave. I must stay with him.

Your Highness, please go!

Please go, Your Highness.

Fire!

Fire!

His Highness's room is on fire!

His Highness...

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

Don't go near. There's a fire.

His Highness is still inside.

Your Highness...

- You can't go! - Let go of me!

- Move aside! - Your Highness!

The fire is too strong.

- He is still inside! Let me in! - Let's go.

- No! - Let go of me!

It's dangerous!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

- Let go! - Your Highness!

Matron, please save him.

Matron, I beg you, save him.

Your Highness!

Your Highness, hold your breath.

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

Officer Gu, take your men and block all exits.

No one enters or leaves.

Yes. Follow me!

Officer Wang, take your men inside.

Search the place thoroughly.

Yes. Follow me!

Marquis Muyang, you're remarkably well-informed.

Any rebels who disrupt the order of Great Chu or act against my interests,

I, the Marquis, will never show mercy.

Fire! Fire!

Fire!

What happened? Where is Prince Li?

Find him, quickly!

- Follow me! - Yes.

Quickly!

Governor, the servants say,

Prince Li and a few confidants set themselves on fire inside.

Princess Li fainted from the shock.

Put out the fire first.

Interrogate everyone involved.

Take the corpses back to the office for verification.

No one is to leave this place.

Yes.

To think the one who murdered Yuan Fang was Prince Li.

The truth is out, so he immolated himself to escape punishment.

He deserved his fate.

Marquis Muyang.

Yuan Fang case has far-reaching implications.

His Majesty has assigned it to the Jingzhao Office.

I won't trouble you tonight, Marquis Muyang.

I will report to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager

to arrest the remnants of the Eastern Palace and secure the realm.

What could be so urgent to handle late at night?

He left in such a hurry.

Don't worry, Your Highness.

Maybe His Highness will be back soon.

Xing Er is making calming soup.

Have some first, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Qing Yu.

I just saw that the sky over there is so red.

Your Highness! Your Highness, slow down.

Be careful! Your Highness!

Isn't that Prince Li's Mansion?

Your Highness, what happened?

You haven't slept at all?

I saw a fire lighting up the sky.

Was it the Prince Li's Mansion?

Did something happen?

At midnight, a fire broke out at Prince Li's Mansion.

The fire spread too rapidly to be put out.

Prince Li has passed away.

That's impossible.

Mo Jing Li cannot be dead.

A man like him couldn't have died just like that.

Are you mistaken?

Li.

His remains are already at the Jingzhao Office.

[Jingzhao Office]

Based on the stature and the remaining clothing and accessories,

the four bodies are identified as

Prince Li, Secretary Sui Xin, Eunuch Jiang Qing Bao, and a guard on duty.

The faces of these four bodies are severely disfigured.

Greetings, Governor.

This is Prince Li's physician.

He attended Prince Li personally and knows His Highness well.

His Highness had an old wound.

Although this body is damaged, it is a match.

Are there any other features?

I once treated His Highness's teeth.

His Highness's left rear tooth,

I extracted it for him last year.

The left rear tooth of this body is indeed missing.

It is him.

[Mo Jing Li]

I never expected Prince Li to plot such evil deeds.

Mother.

Sister.

You've heard the news too.

Yes, I heard Prince Ding traced Yuan Fang's murder to the Eastern Palace

and Mo Jing Li set himself on fire.

What do you think?

Eight years ago, the Crown Prince hounded you and sought your death.

If it weren't for your great fortune, you wouldn't have today's peace.

You showed mercy, let his son live and be honored as a prince.

Yet Mo Jing Li is wolf-hearted and ambitious.

Instead of being grateful,

he plotted in secret to commit such treason.

If such evil isn't uprooted, the realm will be in peril.

You two sound incredibly alike.

[On the Next Episode]

Anyone involved with Mo Jing Li or the Eastern Palace is to be captured.

Better arrest the innocent than let a single one go.

Your Highness.

You're finally back.

Something terrible has happened.

Even if I kill you today,

no one would dare speak up for you.

Leave her here.

Her? You cannot take her away.