Original subtitles

Subtitles and Timing provided to you by 🎶 The Copper Sparrow 🪶Team @viki.com

"Go Ahead Fearlessly" - Liu Yuning

♫ Grudges and karma, right and wrong ♫

♫ The past hides blood and tears ♫

♫ It is hard to catch up after years of separation ♫

♫ The truth cannot be fully revealed ♫

♫ Fate is full of twists and turns ♫

♫ Life and death, fortune and misfortune go hand in hand ♫

♫ Obsession is hard to get rid of, keeping the truth and getting rid of the lies, let the wind blow ♫

♫ Tossed about by the wind and rain, I will never regret it, I will accompany you for my whole life ♫

♫ At least you share my joy and sorrow ♫

♫ Unravelling fate, fearlessly, a dream returns ♫

♫ The mountains and rivers are bright and beautiful, holding hands, together we return ♫

♫ In this life, my heart returns untainted of dust and ash ♫

[Melody of Golden Age]

[Episode 34]

Look, like this.

Squeeze it.

Why can't I close it?

Like this.

♫ Embracing each other, how serious we are about our love ♫

♫ Every moment is treasured ♫

♫ From dawn to dusk ♫

♫ You and I, forever inseparable ♫

♫ Without noticing, you broke into my heart ♫

♫ Slowly immersing myself, I become undaunted by perils for love ♫

♫ I charge into battle with unmatched resilience ♫

Shen Du, it's snowing.

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

Come here.

​♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

Look.

It's finally snowing.

​♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ You are the only one for me ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

​♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

​♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ You are the only one for me ♫

Did I cross the line with Prime Minister Zhang today?

You can't pretend to be a spy for Prime Minister Zhang forever.

You have to end this one day.

But you suddenly brought up my family's old case today.

Was it due to some new conjectures?

I kind of did it on purpose to see his reaction.

It seems that Prime Minister Zhang definitely knows something.

There are so many confusing leads these days.

Nothing is certain.

But I'm certain that long before my family was caught in trouble,

multiple forces of power had been plotting things.

I have a hunch.

What is it?

I think that the situation your father faced

resembles what you're facing now.

You're mediating among several powers.

It's hard to remain neutral and maintain a dignified stance.

A slight misstep could…

Lead to a disaster, and everyone will turn against you.

But sticking to your aspirations is not wrong.

Nor is it wrong to not bend over to those in power.

Shen Du,

please go on with what you should and want to do.

I will do my best to help you find the truth and do your family justice.

A white Winter Solstice.

There will be a good harvest next year.

Is this all you've got, Great Chief? Let's see if you can catch up with me.

♫ I want to be with you, shadows become a pair ♫

♫ I want to hold you, staying by my side ♫

♫ Passing through the obstruction of a storm ♫

♫ I want to be your moonlight ♫

♫ To accompany you to every dawn ♫

♫ How I wish I could just forget the length of time ♫

♫ I want to be with you, shadows become a pair ♫

♫ I want to be with you, never forgetting each other ♫

♫ There is always a place where the clouds and the sea meet ♫

♫ I want to accompany you forever ♫

♫ I will wait until my black hair turns grey ♫

♫ In this life, I will only keep you in my heart ♫

Stickler Jiang! Stickler Jiang!

- Hurry up! - Chuichui!

Hurry up!

How are you? Are you cold?

Of course, I am.

Any better?

Where did you go?

I went to buy you snacks.

Try it.

- It's good. - No rush.

Look at those cheeks.

It's good.

Let's build a snowman.

Doesn't it look like you?

Not at all. Mine looks like you.

No, it doesn't. Not at all.

- Mine looks like you. - You made it so chubby.

Be careful.

- Chuichui. - Come and get me.

It's snowing. Take the umbrella.

[Zichen Palace]

Huan, you always liked the winter snow.

You said that the snow was the purest...

and could cover all the filth and ugliness in the world.

Huan,

how have I done over the years?

Are you pleased?

I really don't know

if I have done anything wrong.

Tell me.

When the time comes

for us to meet in the underworld,

will you blame me?

Grand Empress Dowager.

My eyes got smoked by the incense.

Why did you come back?

Didn't I tell you to take days off for the holiday?

I'm used to dealing with state affairs.

Now that I'm idle, I feel bored.

Besides, I feel that the snowy night is most boring and lonely.

That's why I begged Music Minister Jin to come along with me

to have some fun with Your Majesty.

Look at you.

I know you think that I am all alone, feeling sad.

So you made up something to keep me company.

Grand Empress Dowager, I just composed a new song named "Sorrow and Joy."

I wonder if Your Majesty would be interested in listening to it.

Prepare some dishes.

Let's have a nice time like the common folks,

eating and drinking to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

[Nurturing like a Gentle Breeze]

Don't melt! Don't melt! Don't melt!

Don't melt!

No! No!

You can only be mine.

Mine.

I will not allow anyone to take away anything I want.

Never!

Good!

Here.

Grand Empress Dowager, Vice Minister Lai has come to request an audience.

Bring him in.

Why did he come on such a snowy night?

Minister Lai.

Why did you come here in the snow

instead of celebrating at home?

Is there anything urgent?

Grand Empress Dowager,

I just received an anonymous tip that Yan Xing

was sent to Great Chief Shen to win him over by Prime Minister Zhang.

Earlier today,

Prime Minister Zhang even threatened her with the safety of her family.

Someone is trying to stir things up.

Does Yan Xing truly work for Prince Xian?

Grand Empress Dowager, I'm afraid that there are some misunderstandings.

The informant also stated that you bestowed the marriage decree on Third Miss Yan.

Yet the Yan family swapped her with Sixth Miss Yan on purpose.

Sixth Miss Yan has been promoted to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Justice.

The Yan family obviously had an ulterior motive.

Does Sixth Miss Yan truly work for Prince Xian?

Grand Empress Dowager,

please allow me to say something.

Sixth Miss Yan is my niece.

I know that she has always wanted to become

a female official who solves cases.

She was married to Shen Du by mistake,

but her heart remained sincere

without a trace of malice.

I beg for Your Majesty's discernment.

Jinzang,

this is the first time

you have commented on court affairs

ever since I allowed you to play music in my palace.

I apologize!

Minister Lai,

did you come here in the middle of the night just to talk about Yan Xing?

If there is anything else, tell me at once.

I also learned that

a nursery rhyme suddenly started spreading in Xiang'an,

which sounded highly inappropriate.

A nursery rhyme?

"Red porridge with dates.

Five feet from the sky.

Citrus and persimmon cakes.

Difficult for a child to grasp.

Do not speak carelessly. Who permitted this?

The old lady frowns upon it. Salt shall rise."

Madam Xu is clever.

You must have figured out the problem.

This nursery rhyme targets the Grand Empress Dowager.

"Five feet from the sky. Difficult for a child to grasp."

This is clearly disrespectful to Grand Empress Dowager and His Majesty.

Outrageous!

This nursery rhyme didn't just spring up.

Someone must have plotted this.

I humbly request the Grand Empress Dowager to make the decision.

Can you find out who is spreading such rumors?

The rumors circulated among the street kids.

It's hard to find the source.

All these years…

All these years, I have...

dedicated myself to the Xiao family's empire,

yet there are always people who think

that I did it for my selfish desires.

They bewitch people with such a nursery rhyme.

It's truly detestable.

The Imperial Inspectorate will investigate it

and help Your Majesty find this evil mastermind.

But…

What's wrong?

But this nursery rhyme adopts the tune of the song newly composed

and performed by Music Minister Jin at the Winter Solstice feast

at Prince Xian's mansion.

"Sorrow and Joy."

I humbly request the Grand Empress Dowager to discern.

I composed this piece, inspired by the Winter Solstice.

Indeed, it was first performed at the feast,

but it did not have lyrics,

let alone disloyal intentions.

What if the listeners harbored ill will although the player didn't?

The last line of that nursery rhyme says,

"The old lady frowns upon it. Salt shall rise."

"Salty" sounds just like "Xian".

I'm afraid it refers to Prince Xian.

Summon Prince Xian.

Mother Empress, I am unaware of it. I am innocent.

I first heard "Sorrow and Joy" on the feast and paid no further attention to it.

I had no idea that someone would compose lyrics to insinuate Your Majesty!

I don't believe it was done by Music Minister Jin or instigated by Prince Xian.

But Music Minister Jin just performed the song at Prince Xian's mansion,

and someone immediately spread it with disrespectful lyrics.

What's more, the ending line implies

that Prince Xian is seeking greater power.

Please discern the truth, Mother Empress!

Someone is using this nursery rhyme to sow discord between you and me

and even to kill me, Mother Empress!

Grand Empress Dowager, seditious words bewitch the people.

If we allow this to carry on,

at the very least, it would affect the reputation of Prince Xian and Music Minister Jin.

At worst, people with evil intentions

may accuse Prince Xian of plotting a usurpation.

Grand Empress Dowager, please allow me

to arrest all the guests at the feast in Prince Xian's mansion

for a thorough investigation.

This matter

arose from the feast held by Prince Xian.

From now on,

Prince Xian, Xiao Zhong, will be placed under house arrest.

Jinzang, who composed the song,

shall await trial under the custody of the Imperial Inspectorate.

The other musicians who attended the banquet...

shall be investigated by the Imperial Inspectorate.

I humbly obey Your Majesty's command!

[Peace, Harmony, and Lasting Wellness]

Great Chief. Madam.

Madam Xu sent a confidential letter.

What happened?

Things changed last night. Be very careful.

Don't let the Shen and Yan families go through what had happened.

Help!

- Go! - Help!

Save me, Master!

Master, save me!

- Hurry up! - Help me find my Sixth Daughter! Look for Great Chief!

Help me find my sixth daughter and Great Chief!

Hurry up!

Find them to help me! [Yan Mansion]

Quick! Go and inform Sixth Sister!

Hurry, hurry, hurry! Close the door! Close the door!

Quickly, close the door!

Get in.

A'Zang!

What happened?

My sister!

A'Zang!

What really happened?

- Go! - A'Zang!

- Hurry up! Go! - No!

- Behave! Go! - No!

- A'Zang! - Hurry up!

Father, what happened? Why did they arrest my mother?

Sixth Daughter, your mother was arrested by the Imperial Inspectorate.

Your uncle Jinzang is accused of colluding with Prince Xian to rebel,

and the whole clan will be implicated.

My uncle is just a musician.

How could he participate in a rebellion?

No way! It's a setup!

Sixth Miss, calm down.

Your mother may have been arrested, but the Yan family hasn't been implicated.

The Imperial Inspectorate wouldn't go after you just yet.

The Yan family hasn't been implicated.

That's right, Father.

Mother is from the Jin family, but she has married into the Yan family. She’s a married-out daughter.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't have affected her.

They have no reason to arrest her.

Those people are like the soul reapers from the underworld.

How can we reason with them?

They just arrest whoever they want to arrest.

No.

It's not that they are unreasonable.

You didn't dare to reason with them, did you?

Father. Mother.

You let the Imperial Inspectorate arrest my mother for no reason,

without stepping up to ask a question. Right?

Fine. You all fear the Black Fiend.

I don't. I'll save her if you don't.

- Sixth Sister! - Sixth Daughter!

Sixth Daughter!

[Yan Mansion]

- Sixth Miss. - Chuichui.

There you are.

Your Great Chief sent word from the palace through Jing Lin,

saying he will meet the Grand Empress Dowager to plead on behalf of the Jin family.

Stickler Jiang and I split up to look for you.

I thought I could find you here.

Chuichui, thank you!

But Prince Xian is involved. The future is uncertain.

It's not enough to have Shen Du's help.

You go back first. I'll go and find Prime Minister Zhang.

All right, be careful!

Stickler Jiang, is that you?

Lai Luozhi.

Are you disappointed that it's me?

I… I have a date with Jiang Langxing.

He will be coming soon.

Jiang Langxing.

Jiang Langxing.

Is he the only one you care about now?

So obedient.

How nice!

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Justice

is here to meet Prime Minister Zhang.

Madam Shen, our lord is not home today.

I have asked around.

He's shut himself in ever since what happened to Prince Xian.

He didn't even go to court today.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Justice,

[Zhang Mansion] wife of the Great Chief, the sixth daughter of Academician Yan,

is here to request an audience with Prime Minister Zhang.

Madam Shen, please don't make things hard for us.

I won't.

I will just wait here.

In a day or two, he's bound to come out. Right?

Surely, Prime Minister Zhang wouldn't take the back door

or sneak through the dog hole just to avoid me. Right?

I knew I couldn't easily get rid of you.

If I do not come out, are you going to turn my mansion upside down?

Prime Minister Zhang, please save the Jin family!

Stop pushing me.

I can't help you with what you're asking.

Minister Zhang, you are the Prime Minister and the chief counselor.

The Jin family suffers injustice. You can't ignore this.

Since you have the Grand Empress Dowager's palace token,

why do you seek my help but not hers?

I'm just a low-ranking official who can only chatter in front of the Grand Empress Dowager.

I would be overestimating myself to believe that

I can interfere with court affairs.

Since you understand that,

then how come you don't get why Lai Luozhi

is blaming this on Music Minister Jin?

It's because of me?

This is happening because you are both married to Shen Du and working as

the Chief Director of the Ministry of Justice who keeps causing trouble.

Of course. It's not just that.

It is said that on the night of the Winter Solstice,

Lai Luozhi reported to the Grand Empress Dowager

that you were sent by me to win over Shen Du

and serve Prince Xian in the power struggle.

Music Minister Jin refuted him and defied the Grand Empress Dowager right on the spot.

My younger uncle...

defied the Grand Empress Dowager for me?

Our laws forbid palace attendants and musicians

from discussing court affairs.

Violation is met with the death penalty.

But Jinzang grew arrogant from favoritism.

He overestimated himself.

Uncle wasn't arrogant from favoritism.

Nor did he overestimate himself.

He did that because he's my younger uncle.

He sees me as his family.

He'd rather risk his life than see me in trouble.

Sixth Miss,

all these years, I've been using you people instead of caring for you.

But regarding this matter, I've said all that can be said.

Between Prince Xian and the Jin family,

I have no choice.

[Zhang Mansion]

Back then,

were you faced with the same choices regarding the Shen family's case?

My Lord.

Prince Xian is under house arrest, and yet I've remained silent.

Do you know why?

No, I don't.

I've watched Prince Xian grow up.

My feelings for Prince Xian

are just like those of Jinzang for Yan Xing.

Of course, I wish to risk myself to get Prince Xian out of this.

The disaster of this nursery rhyme,

I know very well that Prince Xian has no heart for usurpation.

The Grand Empress Dowager knows that as well.

But Her Majesty is not just a mother,

she is also the Grand Empress Dowager of Great Cang.

If I step forward, then my disciples will follow my footsteps

and file petitions to the Grand Empress Dowager, urging her to release Prince Xian.

The more pressure we apply,

the more we push Prince Xian to a dead end.

[Ministry of Justice]

Chuichui! Chuichui!

- What's wrong? What's the rush? - Has Chuichui come back?

Didn't she go out with you earlier?

We split up to look for Yan Xing.

Hasn't she returned yet?

Then maybe she found Director Yan and went off for fun somewhere.

Why don't you just ask Director Yan?

- All right. - Go ask—

Why would he bother Director Yan?

What's wrong, My Lord?

Director Yan, don't you know her maiden family is in deep trouble?

The Jin family is suspected of inciting Prince Xian to plot a rebellion

and was arrested by the Imperial Inspectorate.

Right.

Do not bother Director Yan no matter what.

Director Wu, you're right. I'll look for her by myself.

I'll take my leave.

Be careful.

Where am I?

People call me the Black Fiend.

So perhaps, this is the Underworld.

What do you want? Are you going to kill me?

The eighteen levels of inferno are meant for others.

Even if you truly arrive at the Underworld one day,

I will light up the bones as lamps and burn the evil spirits

to illuminate this Palace of Death

and make it as cozy as home for you.

You can't escape.

Why are you scared?

I will not hurt you.

Chuichui,

lift your head up.

Look. What do you think? Do you like it?

This is…

I heard you liked the betrothal gifts Jiang Langxing sent to you.

So you like these things.

So I bought everything that the girls in Xiang'an Street like,

as well as all the betrothal gifts that wealthy families use when proposing.

What do you think?

What do you want?

Propose to you, of course.

Propose to me?

I'll ask your parents to marry you off to me.

What are you talking about?

I am engaged to Jiang Langxing. I am going to marry him.

What's so good about that stickler inspector?

Whatever he offers, I can give you ten times of it.

It's not about that. I have agreed to marry him.

So what?

You can get a divorce even if you're married.

If you feel sorry for him, I can compensate him on your behalf.

I can kill Xu Xiangren

and make him the Marshal of Inspectors as long as he wants me to.

Don't be ridiculous!

Fine. I'll do as you say.

How come you just don't get it?

Jiang Langxing and I like each other.

We like each other, too. I like you so dearly.

I've never cared for a woman so much before.

But I don't like you.

You're lying! You obviously like me, too.

Didn't you call me Masked Man and consider me a good friend?

Besides… Besides, our mothers are buried in the same place.

This is fate.

The affection between friends is different from that between a couple.

I have no feelings for you.

Impossible! You will find out that I'm right very soon.

Let go of me!

It's all right.

I can wait.

One day, you will fall in love with me.

[Imperial Inspectorate]

Stop right there. The Jin case is assigned to the Imperial Inspectorate.

The Ministry of Justice has no right to intervene.

Director Yan, please go back.

Hold on.

Vice Minister Lai.

Madam Shen, there is an easy way to save your family.

File a lawsuit against Shen Du for framing the Jin family.

Then I will clear your name and save your family.

Please stop teasing me for fun.

You want me to frame my husband? Absolutely impossible!

I didn't know that the woman who married into the Shen family as a spy

ended up deeply in love with Shen Du.

Vice Minister Lai, you can stop using that as leverage.

I've clarified it with my husband and Prime Minister Zhang.

I have a clear conscience. I haven't done anything wrong.

I've worked hard in the Ministry of Justice,

striving to look for the truth and do people justice.

We're talking about Shen Du, my husband.

But even if we're talking about a stranger, I, Sixth Miss Yan,

would never do anything to disgrace the title I uphold.

Madam Shen, you don't have to talk tough.

One day, you will comply.

Director Yan, please go back.

Please.

Sixth Miss.

You're back.

Sixth Miss,

Grand Empress Dowager didn't change her mind.

I will think of something else.

I've guessed as much.

I went to see Prime Minister Zhang today

and came to understand Her Majesty's difficult situation.

I wasn't there in person but I could imagine how it happened.

If Lai Luozhi managed to pin those charges on Prince Xian,

then it wouldn't just be a catastrophe for the Jin family.

The court will see turbulences and a power struggle.

Who knows how many families will be annihilated?

I will figure something out.

Tomorrow,

the Imperial Inspectorate will parade the Jins through the streets.

We may have a chance afterward.

Subtitles and Timing provided to you by 🎶 The Copper Sparrow 🪶Team @viki.com

"Only Want You" - Ding Yuxi, Deng Enxi

♫ One look confirmed our fate ♫

♫ Upon meeting again, I know you're the one for me ♫

♫ Gazing at the stars, dreaming about old times ♫

♫ A pair of people have already taken root ♫

♫ Lovers before the candlelight, do not ask their thoughts ♫

♫ Affection is bound, lasting forever ♫

♫ Using the evening breeze to express deep love ♫

♫ I have someone I long for in this life ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ You are the only one for me ♫

♫ Embracing each other, how serious we are about our love ♫

♫ Every moment is treasured ♫

♫ From dawn to dusk ♫

♫ You and I, forever inseparable ♫

♫ Without noticing, you broke into my heart ♫

♫ Slowly immersing myself, I become undaunted by perils for love ♫

♫ I charge into battle with unmatched resilience ♫

♫ Because you are my responsibility ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ You are the only one for me ♫