Original subtitles

[Episode 33]

Grandfather.

Masters.

Brothers and sisters of Li Mountain Academy.

I'm Mo Xiu Yao, Li's husband.

Thank you all.

I'll be good to Li, even if it costs me my life.

Thank you for taking care of her.

From now on, I'll never let her be alone again.

You may rest easy.

Come on.

- Come on. - Drink up.

- Let's enjoy ourselves today. - Here.

- Thank you all. - Thank you as well.

Here's to you, Li.

- Good. - Drink up.

Li, good for you.

I like this young man.

Manage your household well.

Don't bully him.

I heard he likes fishing.

I'll have a match with him someday.

Li.

The man who married you is blessed beyond measure.

Come on.

When a person suffers a sudden trauma, such as losing a loved one

or a dear friend, and cannot bear it, they may experience hallucinations.

They see and hear the deceased and believe that they are still alive.

[Headmaster Xu's Tablet]

[Master Zhu]

[Ye Li's Tablet]

Li...

Yao.

Where did you go?

I just went for a walk.

There are monkeys outside.

It's fine.

I'm not afraid of monkeys.

Are you cold?

I'll hold you to sleep.

Li, you might not know.

I'm terrified of death.

What?

When I was young, I joined the army with my father and brother.

In the army, we took pride in valor and boasted of courage.

I followed their example and told myself,

"You must be brave and fear nothing."

But on my first battlefield,

I was petrified.

I could barely move.

Death is truly terrifying.

To be buried under the earth,

eaten by worms and ants, surrounded by darkness...

It's truly frightening.

I'm afraid too.

But I'm not afraid anymore.

Why?

Because I have you.

When I think

that one day we'll grow old, die,

and be buried together,

and that I can still hold you like this beneath the same earth,

I'm not afraid of anything anymore.

Yao, don't be afraid.

I will stay by your side.

I'm not afraid.

I will stay by your side too.

So, Li.

Don't be afraid either.

I think I'm really drunk.

I probably won't be able to get up tomorrow.

Then don't.

But I have so much to do.

I have to chop wood.

I can chop the wood.

I have to fetch water.

I can fetch the water too.

I also need to dig bamboo shoots and cook.

Li.

Why do you always take everything upon yourself?

You have me now.

Just get a good night's sleep.

Leave those chores to me, all right?

You're awake.

Did you chop all this wood?

Are you hungry? I made you some porridge. Come here.

Back in the army, I never paid much mind to food.

I hope it's to your liking.

It's delicious.

Try this.

How is the seasoning?

It's a pity I couldn't find mushrooms.

Maybe I looked in the wrong place.

I know where they are.

After we finish eating, I'll take you there.

All right.

After we pick mushrooms, I'll fix your doors and windows.

And your bed too.

I barely dared move last night, fearing it would collapse.

Okay.

Over there.

Be careful.

Isn't the moon on Li Mountain beautiful?

It's different from the one below.

Yes.

It feels so close, as if I could touch its light.

All these years,

it has kept you company through many lonely nights.

From now on, through every moon rise and moon set.

Li, I will always be by your side.

Come look at the cloth!

- Take a look! - Come and see!

[Suixue Pass]

Come have a look! Fine fabrics!

Come and take a look! Cheap prices!

I heard Suixue Pass was a desolate place, lacking food and clothing.

But after years of peace and trade between the two states,

- it seems quite prosperous. - Come have a look!

This is what Ling Yun hoped for.

It's a pity she can't see it.

Master, let's get something to eat.

Master, at your age, you'd have let go by now if you could.

Anyway, I've come to terms with it.

What good does that do?

Coming!

- Vendor. - Enjoy your meal.

- A bowl of meat soup and half a pancake. - Right away.

Master, isn't that the clerk from Shende House who was in jail with Princess Ding?

I've seen him several times before.

Han Ming Xi.

Master Feng.

Sit.

Why are you at Suixue Pass?

Not working at Shende House?

Did Princess Ding treat you poorly?

Don't talk nonsense. Ye Li treats me very well.

I'm here with my family on business.

Why are you here?

I brought my beloved to visit her hometown.

Master Feng, are you married?

I heard people say you're old enough to get married

and your family is wealthy, yet you're still unmarried.

They wondered if you had some hidden illness.

That's nonsense.

Don't gossip like that, kid.

So, who did you marry?

Princess Ling Yun of Cangbei.

She...

Isn't she...

She is.

But the people here won't forget her.

And neither will I.

Master Feng.

My condolences.

How long have you been here?

After Su Zui Dier was sent back to Cangbei, what happened to her?

Was she executed?

I haven't heard anything.

I suppose she must have died a miserable death.

Even painters from Great Chu come here to make a living.

Let's find an inn first.

- Yes. - Let's go.

They fled?

Yes.

At least five or six years ago.

There was no sign of long-term habitation on that mountain.

How can you tell that everyone was gone?

I had the place searched thoroughly.

The rooms at Li Mountain were all empty.

The fields had long been abandoned.

There were barely any clothes left.

In the entire Li Mountain Academy, only Princess Ding remained.

But when we questioned her, she couldn't explain anything.

Knowing this was a grave matter, I hurried back to report.

Gongshu Yang, what do you think?

I believe there is something strange about this.

A man like Xu Qing Yun would never request to seal the mountain only to flee in secret.

That's hard to say.

Given enough time, anyone would tire of hardships on the mountain.

Perhaps they slipped away along some hidden path.

Mother!

Mother.

Prince Ding sent another urgent report.

He says that except, for Princess Ding,

everyone else on Li Mountain has died of illness.

Died of illness?

It happened a few years ago.

Gongshu Yang.

Yes.

I appoint you as surveillance commissioner of Li Mountain.

On the Emperor's behalf, depart immediately to Li Mountain and find out the truth.

I obey Your Majesty's decree.

Li.

Come here.

From now on, you can sit here to watch the moon.

Try it.

Is it comfortable?

Yes.

Li.

Sit and rest for a while.

What's happening outside?

It sounds like quite a commotion.

The Emperor sent Gongshu Yang with an official entourage.

He's coming to pay respects.

So suddenly?

Has the date been set?

I told them to come in two days.

Are you still busy tomorrow?

No.

Look.

You've picked a whole basket of shoots, chopped all the firewood,

and finished copying the books.

You even fixed the windows for me.

What else could I be busy with?

Then watch the sunrise with me tomorrow.

All right.

I know a place that is perfect for watching the sunrise.

The scenery is beautiful.

Stretch out your hand, and it feels like you can hold the sun.

We're early.

It's still dark.

We'll have to wait a long time to see the sunrise.

A shooting star!

Where?

There. It fell.

Another one!

You're teasing me.

I really saw it.

Then I won't sleep.

I'll keep my eyes open and see if the stars really fall.

What do you see?

It's pitch black.

I can't see anything.

How can that be?

Though it's dark, there's still much to see.

Look at those stars.

Though few, they are very bright.

The clouds at night are also special.

Grayish-purple like bruises, like waves of the deep sea.

In the firmament above,

they surge and swell, wave upon wave.

I think you should quit the Jingzhao Office.

With your imagination, you should be writing storybooks.

You don't see it because you never look.

At night, we long for dawn.

By day, we wait for the moon.

Yet every moment's scenery is worth appreciating.

Just like life experiences.

Whether good or bad, you cannot skip through them.

You must face them and move past them.

Once you do, there will be new scenery and a new life.

We're here to watch the sunrise.

Why so philosophical?

Mo Xiu Yao, you're only in your twenties,

not some nagging old man.

All right.

Then let's watch the sunrise.

The clouds are heavy today.

I'm afraid we won't see it.

Then accompany me to another place.

Where to?

Li.

Do you still remember what I told you that night?

You've said so much.

Which part?

No matter what happens,

I will always be by your side.

So don't be afraid.

And always look forward.

With you here, I'm not afraid.

Wild monkeys often roam the back hill.

They're quite aggressive.

Don't come here again.

- What's wrong? - Grandfather said

there are monkeys in the hills behind and I can't go there.

There are monkeys over there.

Lots of monkeys.

Don't be afraid, Li.

I'm here.

Don't be afraid.

I'm here.

Don't be afraid, Li.

Let's go. It's all right.

It's all right. Don't be afraid.

There are no monkeys.

Don't be afraid.

It's all right.

Li.

Are you all right?

Let's keep going.

Master, we've gathered the herbs.

Master.

Is this all you found?

That's all. We've searched the entire mountain.

Master, are you all right?

Step back! Step back!

Don't come any closer.

Go away!

Li, it's too dangerous here.

Go now.

- Master, let me in. - Go.

I can take care of you all.

Leave now!

Bad news.

The Headmaster is dying.

My Lady.

- My Lady. - It's no use.

There's nothing more we can do.

Grandfather!

Grandfather.

How are you feeling?

Go. You must go.

Go!

No way.

Where are you going?

I'm going down the mountain.

I'll find physicians or soldiers for medicine.

- Anyone who can save them! - My lady.

- Qing Shuang, take care of Grandfather. - Don't!

Come back!

Li, come back!

- Li! - Li!

Li!

Go over there!

- Someone, help! - Li!

- Li! - Don't.

I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you.

But you can't leave the mountain.

- Let go of me! - Go!

- Let go! - Go!

Close the door.

Open the door.

Senior Brother, open the door.

It'll be too late soon. Open the door!

Li, Li Mountain's closure was not for selfish reasons.

It was to uphold legitimacy and resist Guo Jin's usurpation.

Li, if we leave the mountain and seek help,

we submit to the traitors,

we betray the Headmaster's honor,

and we disgrace Li Mountain Academy.

If everyone dies, what use is honor?

I just want my grandfather alive.

I just want my masters and senior brothers alive.

Open the door now! Open the door!

Let me out!

Master Helai...

Master Helai will save us.

Master Helai's medical skills are so superb.

Li, trust me.

This is just a plague.

Everything will be fine.

We will be fine.

Senior Brother, you don't understand.

We have no more medicine.

We're out of medicine. Open the door now.

I'm begging you. Senior Brother!

Senior Brother!

Open the door, Senior Brother!

I'm begging you, Senior Brother!

My Lady.

My Lady.

My Lady.

Qing Shuang.

Qing Shuang.

My Lady.

My Lady.

Qing Shuang.

Grandfather and the masters...

How are they?

The Headmaster...

The Headmaster seems to be asleep.

Master Helai won't let us in, nor will he open the door.

But more people are getting sick.

Qing Shuang, what's wrong?

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

I'm fine, My Lady.

I'm just scared.

Qing Shuang, don't be afraid.

Leave the mountain now.

Go down and find the soldiers.

Tell them if anything happens to Li Mountain, they will be held accountable.

My Lady.

I'm scared.

Listen, Qing Shuang, don't be afraid.

Go down the mountain now. Be good.

All right.

I'll go.

Qing Shuang, have you gone?

Qing Shuang?

Qing Shuang?

Qing Shuang, move aside.

Qing Shuang.

Qing Shuang, are you all right?

Hang in there. I'll find someone to save you.

Senior Brother.

Master Helai.

Go.

Go!

Master Helai.

Master Helai!

Master Zhu.

Master Yu.

Grandfather.

Grandfather...

Grandfather.

Grandfather.

Grand--

Don't leave me.

[On the Next Episode]

There were originally four straw figures.

Lu Chang Fu.

The Ye family.

Marquis Muyang.

And the fourth one...

The Empress Dowager.

Marquis Muyang framed the loyal and used brutal torture.

If she hadn't condoned it from the shadows,

how could he have been so rampant?

Yet she remains the high and mighty Empress Dowager.