Original subtitles

=Tigers Sniff the Rose=

(Based on the novel of the same name by Yiren Kuikui)

=Episode 38=

(Tranquility Brings Wisdom) I'm not going.

I've spent 50 years

drowning in endless schemes.

I've lost my beloved wife,

and now my children too.

I truly am alone

in this world.

Your Majesty.

As long as there's still breath in you...

Say no more.

I'm not going anywhere.

Fleeing south, seeking refuge in the west.

Wandering from place to place.

I can't endure it anymore.

I am the Son of Heaven.

I can't die on the flight.

I'll stay right here

and let the people of Sheng'an know

that at least

I didn't abandon them.

Jiyuan.

Remember when we were young?

We had such grand ambitions.

Now they're all gone.

Go on.

Huai still needs you.

Your Majesty, we're both old men now.

This parting

shall be our last.

(Tranquility Brings Wisdom)

Go load the things onto the carts.

Be careful.

Yes, sir.

Safe travels.

Yan Shang.

Do you realize

that even if you stay,

they won't be grateful to you?

They'll only

resent you.

Because your presence

only throws their cowardice and baseness

into sharper relief!

What about you?

Do you resent me too?

Yan Shang.

You're just as annoying as you were back in school.

But back then,

you always helped me.

That's not a contradiction.

I saw you as a friend,

yet I couldn't help but resent you.

No.

Perhaps I was just...

jealous.

Because I knew better than anyone

how clever

and gifted you were.

You seem to see through everything.

You listened to all my arrogant nonsense

and watched me daydream about the future.

Yet you never once called me out.

Because I envied you.

Your privilege.

Your composure.

Your righteousness.

Your high spirits.

I'd never known any of them.

And I'd never had

a friend like you.

What about now?

Do you still see me as a friend?

Yan Shang.

Take care.

We'll meet again.

Stay safe.

Stay safe.

Be safe.

Stay safe.

Stay safe.

(Guanghua Gate)

How is it?

Sir.

Before the fighting begins,

I'll have the city gates opened briefly.

Anyone who wishes to leave,

civilian or official,

may do so at once.

I'll also station a cavalry unit inside the city

in case the rebels launch a surprise attack.

Don't worry.

Mu Xun is unscrupulous

and suspicious by nature.

He won't dare attack

until he knows what's going on.

But he'll certainly

post men at the gates.

He'll soon know

when the imperial carriage leaves the city.

Whether we make it out

will be up to fate.

What do you think

of Mu Xun's troops?

Huai has yet to recover its strength.

The regional governors are sitting on the sidelines,

while foreign powers eye us hungrily.

The armies of Handong and Hanbei

are among Huai's finest.

It'd be a terrible waste

to lose them all at Sheng'an.

If possible,

I'd rather keep them at a standoff

and wait for a chance to win.

Better than a direct clash that leaves both sides

with casualties.

Good.

That you can see this far

shows you understand

not only victory and defeat, but the fate of the realm.

I'm relieved.

Yan Shang.

I made you Commandant of the Guards to defend this besieged city.

Do you resent me?

If I were afraid,

I wouldn't have rushed back from Lanyang.

Sir,

head to Jinzhou first

and wait for things to turn.

(Guanghua Gate)

Keep up!

(Guanghua Gate) Hurry up.

Don't stop!

Hurry!

Sir, today,

you and I

each stake our lives.

How could I resent you?

Each

stake our lives.

Well said.

Stay alive.

You played that game of Go well.

Keep playing.

You will win!

By imperial command!

We march today!

All troops, hear my orders!

Keep strict discipline!

(Peace Throughout the Realm) Fight bravely!

Chancellor Liu.

(Virtue Shines to Transform)

Yes!

Report!

The city gates just opened.

Many officials and soldiers poured out.

Then they shut again.

The city is already in disarray

before the fighting has even begun.

I bet most of those who fled overnight

were city officials.

Yes.

Many officials left in their carriages.

Mu Ti is a spineless fool.

He's a lost cause.

If he gets a chance to run,

he won't hesitate.

Your Royal Highness, you think

the Prince of Jin may be among them?

Probably not just my brother.

Even my father

will try to escape while he can.

Go cut them off.

Yes!

Report!

Several large carriages headed east,

followed by a few mounted guards.

Another large carriage headed west,

accompanied by the imperial procession.

I'll split our forces and intercept them all.

Wait.

Is Chancellor Liu

among them?

He headed north with one of the carriages.

Wang Chengding.

Take the main force yourself.

You must stop the carriage Chancellor Liu is with.

If I'm right,

my brother and father

should be in it.

Your Royal Highness,

I'll bring them back.

Take them away!

Take them!

Get out!

Everyone out!

Don't move!

Hurry!

Don't run!

Chancellor Liu.

Where's Mu Ti?

And where

have you hidden my father?

All of you were once loyal, brave generals.

Now you bow to traitors

and march on the imperial palace.

Aren't you afraid of being condemned for this for generations to come?

I am

Huai's rightful heir.

My rule in Sheng'an is the will of Heaven.

The will of Heaven?

You've stirred up war,

setting beacon fires blazing, and throwing the realm into unrest.

For the land and the people,

do you even show a trace of a true ruler?

Your Royal Highness.

Chancellor Liu is a pillar of the state.

Please spare his life.

Soldiers!

Hanbei and Handong

both suffered severe drought this year.

The court

ordered granaries opened

to relieve your hometowns.

Yet you

follow traitors.

Who'll care for the starving back home?

You

are all soldiers of Huai.

Your families have enjoyed the state's grace.

By Huai law,

rebellion

and treason are punishable by death!

By following traitors,

you betray your sovereign and fail your people!

Back then, Yan Changshan

kept cursing the rebels even after his tongue was cut out.

Now,

I'll follow his example.

What joy.

What joy!

You old pedant.

Thank goodness.

I

really am blessed.

Heaven won't let me die yet.

Commandant of the Guards.

Chancellor Liu was intercepted by the rebels.

He was killed.

(You're out here admiring)

(the scenery so early in the morning.)

(What fine spirits.)

(Then do you dare stay)

(and settle the injustices of this realm?)

(You played that game of Go well.)

(Keep playing.)

(You will win!)

Chancellor Liu.

I'll stay.

I'll hold the line.

Pass the order.

Summon the Left and Right Jinwu Guard Generals,

the Left and Right Shence Army Commandants,

and the Zhechong Commandants of the capital garrisons

to discuss our defense.

Yes!

We have enough provisions in the city for a month.

Crossbow bolt supplies

are limited to 300 a day.

Starting today,

the troops on the walls stand watch in shifts, day and night.

Report all military developments to me.

I'll hold the line right here.

Both rebel armies have marched a long way to attack us.

Their supplies must be running low.

We must hold them off.

Yes!

We've reached Sheng'an.

We have to strike fast to win.

Stock up on provisions.

We must take the city

within three days,

five at most.

Your Royal Highness.

Sheng'an's walls are said to be impregnable.

A direct assault may not work.

(Sheng'an)

Then think of something else.

(Sheng'an)

(Peace Throughout the Realm)

(Peace Throughout the Realm)

(Virtue Shines to Transform)

(Virtue Shines to Transform)

Wenji.

Are we there yet?

Your Majesty, welcome to Jinzhou!

Long live Your Majesty!

(Residence of the Prefect of Jinzhou)

Come on, fill it up.

Mr. Liu, please.

Please.

Come on, drink up.

You hold your liquor well, sir.

Very good.

Fill it up.

Come on.

Fill it up.

Fang Tong.

It's been three years.

Commander Yan, how have you been?

It's been a long time.

Why are so many people gathered down there?

(Guanghua Gate)

Report!

What's happening?

The rebels have looted every farm

and field around Sheng'an.

Stored grain seized as military rations.

Green wheat cut for horse feed.

The people are terrified

and want to take refuge in the city,

so...

So they've gathered outside the gates.

What's wrong?

My home

is just outside the city.

Open the gates!

(Guanghua Gate)

(Guanghua Gate) Are they insane?

They're killing innocent civilians

just to force us to open the gates!

If we open them,

they'll storm the city.

If we don't,

we'll lose the people's trust.

(Guanghua Gate)

(Guanghua Gate)

(Peace Throughout the Realm)

(Guanghua Gate)

Report!

What is it?

The commander defending the city sent Shence Army elites out to fight.

Sending cavalry to rescue civilians?

Quite a sacrifice.

Who's holding Sheng'an now?

I hear it's a county magistrate.

A magistrate?

Which one?

It's Yan Shang.

Tan Yuanchun.

Here.

Move out!

Yes!

Attack!

(Guanghua Gate)

(Peace Throughout the Realm)

Run!

Run! Hurry!

Hang in there!

Bear with it.

Our harvest...

The wheat would've been golden

in just half a month.

How are we supposed to survive?

What are we going to do?

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

(Guanghua Gate)

It's the deposed Crown Prince!

It's the deposed Crown Prince!

It's the deposed Crown Prince!

It's the deposed Crown Prince!

Several blocks of homes in Sheng'an have burned down.

The whole city is in a panic.

The people are terrified of war.

That's exactly what we want. Panic.

To break the enemy without fighting.

I'll take Sheng'an

without shedding a drop of blood.

Your Royal Highness.

Even if we must take the city,

these tactics

are too cruel.

Winner takes all.

If the city falls, I live.

If the army's defeated, I die.

Yang Si.

They're only defending

the city, never attacking.

What do you think they're waiting for?

Reinforcements!

I'll lead the attack myself

tomorrow morning.

No unauthorized visitors allowed!

I need to see Commander Yan.

Wei Shu?

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang.

I know you're defending the city.

I didn't want to bother you.

But those rebels are out of their minds.

They've even set fire to people's homes.

I may be useless,

but I want to do my part.

What do you have in mind?

I haven't left my alchemy room in two years.

I've figured out the secrets of saltpeter and sulfur.

If you give the order,

I can start making

gunpowder today.

Gunpowder?

Like firecrackers.

With adjustments to the formula,

it could be dozens of times more powerful.

I thought it might help.

Excellent.

How long will it take?

If all goes well,

three days.

I can make

a small batch in as little as one day and one night.

And if things don't go well?

Then

the alchemy room in the Princess's Residence

will be blown to ashes along with me.

What materials do you need?

I'll have them requisitioned at once.

Just go ahead and do it.

Yan Shang.

Why isn't the Princess here?

Where is she?

She'll be back.

(Border of the Central Circuit, North Jing)

(Border of the Central Circuit, North Jing)

Two and a half jin of saltpeter.

One liang of hemp fiber.

One liang of dry lacquer.

And one liang of arsenic.

I've weighed them all.

Miss Zhao.

It's too dangerous in here.

Maybe you should...

Cut it out.

What else do I need to do?

We need a lot of clay jars,

oil cloth, paste, and fuses.

Pack the jars with gunpowder,

broken tiles, and iron nails.

Seal them with tung oil.

Then insert the powder fuse.

I'll go get them.

What's a powder fuse?

A thin cord made by rolling paper soaked in powder.

It's used to ignite the gunpowder.

Where can we get that?

How thick should the paper cord be?

I can make it.

Yes, we can all make it.

Don't come in.

This room is full of gunpowder. Too dangerous.

Look at the situation we're in.

Just tell us what the fuse should look like.

♪May the endless wind linger for me♪

♪Let the storms sweep the hills bare; still, I cling to dreams of home♪

♪If one day my homeland calls, my heart stays true♪

Your Highness, all the troops you requested have been assembled

and are waiting at the border.

Thank you, General.

♪Whose eyes have seen the smoke of war?♪

In the three years of your reign,

you've shown North Jing great care.

We are all grateful.

When you give an order,

we obey.

♪I bow beyond the frontier walls♪

North Jing is in my hands.

You all go with Her Highness.

Yes.

Yes.

♪May the moon shine on us forever♪ (With Bold, Majestic Strides)

(Meng Zaishi,)

(rest assured.)

(I'll bring your troops back.)

Tierong, give me a squad of cavalry.

I'll ride ahead

and get half a day's lead on you.

You lead the main force on.

Alright.

I'll force-march

along the route you've planned.

Gu Han, come with me!

♪Someday, we'll sail and feed the gulls♪

♪Gaze upon the land and guard it with you♪

Who goes there?

The garrison of Qinzhou is here to receive you!

We're joining the relief of Sheng'an!

The Princess Regent ordered us to prepare provisions,

ready our troops,

and join forces with you!

Thank you.

♪I'd trade all the world's romance for one moment of tenderness♪

(The Princess Regent is here!)

(Pei Yun, Prefect of Tongzhou, receive the order!)

(Du Tong, Military Commander of Zhangzhou, receive the order!)

(Fang Yuan, Prefect of Yuzhou, receive the order!)

(By order of the Princess Regent,)

(garrisons in prefectures along the way, armor up and form ranks!)

(Travel light!)

(Rush to Sheng'an's aid!)

♪Blood stains my sleeves as I stand firm. Never will I fall behind♪

♪I bow beyond the frontier walls♪

♪May you live a life free of sorrow; may the moon shine on us forever♪

People of Sheng'an, hear me!

I am Huai's rightful heir.

I can't bear to see my people suffer!

Today,

whoever opens the city gates

will receive a thousand taels of gold.

Whoever captures the impostor Yan Shang

will be made a marquis.

Anyone who joins me will be forgiven for past crimes.

Those who resist

will be slain on sight!

Pah!

Rightful heir, my foot!

You wretch!

Exactly!

With the war raging,

we can still buy rice and medicine in the city.

Things haven't fallen apart.

All thanks to Scholar Yan!

(Guanghua Gate) Are you done?

If so, it's my turn.

I am Yan Shang, Commandant of the Guards.

Hear me, soldiers,

both rebel and loyal!

You all come from good families.

The people inside

and outside this city are all Huai's subjects.

Whomever your weapons strike,

they are your own kin and neighbors.

You have been

misled by the traitor Mu Xun.

This is not what you truly want!

Now

Sheng'an lies in ruins...

What are you waiting for?

Are you

going to let him keep poisoning people's minds?

Anyone who lays down their arms and surrenders now

will be pardoned

and may return home!

The harvest is near.

Your wives and children are waiting for you!

Shoot him!

(Guanghua Gate)

Would you rather die on foreign soil

or return home?

Proclaim it throughout the camps

and let all hear!

My life

is of no consequence.

Do not worry about me.

(Guanghua Gate)

Your priority

is to defend the city.

- Commander Yan! - Commander Yan!

Call the imperial physician!

Commander Yan!

Commander Yan!

Commander Yan says as long as we stand, the city stands!

As long as we stand together,

Sheng'an will never fall!

With Commander Yan here, we have nothing to fear!

Commander Yan, you've suffered so much!

The rebel Yan Shang is dead!

Attack!

(Guanghua Gate)

(Guanghua Gate)

Set the ladders!

Hold them steady! Climb!

Hold them off.

Don't let them in!

Someone!

Someone!

Hurry!

Quick!

(Guanghua Gate)

It worked.

You did it!

We did it.

Everyone, keep lighting them!

Commander Yan.

Bring it here. Hurry.

Quick.

Commander Yan.

Hurry!

Here, the medicine.

Here.

We owe it all to Commander Yan.

Now rumors are spreading and morale's in chaos.

We need to do something.

They claim that Yan Shang died and his head has been sent to the army.

That's utter nonsense!

But now...

Commander Yan looks...

Imperial Physician, how is he?

The arrow pierced Commander Yan's lung.

He's lost a lot of blood, and the fever hasn't broken.

His life

is hanging by a thread.

All we can do now is try everything to stop the bleeding.

Blood! Blood!

The bleeding won't stop!

Stop the bleeding!

Someone!

Help stop the bleeding! Quick!

The bleeding won't stop!

Someone, help!

The bleeding won't stop!

Your Royal Highness,

Yan Shang's words have spread everywhere.

The people of Sheng'an are defending the city with soaring morale.

Our troops are losing heart.

If we keep attacking,

I'm afraid we'll suffer heavy losses.

We've come this far.

Who cares about losses now?

Once I take Sheng'an,

every one of you

will be honored!

Follow me

and keep attacking tomorrow.

No one is to undermine the troops' morale.

Your Royal Highness,

forcing soldiers to throw their lives away

may

destroy our morale.

Yang Si!

They're under siege.

Their arrows and provisions are limited.

How much saltpeter and sulfur could they possibly have?

I'd like to see

how long

their bombs can last.

Sir, word from Sheng'an...

How dare you disrupt the imperial audience!

Your Majesty,

word from Sheng'an

is that the defender, Scholar Yan, has been killed in battle.

Sheng'an has fallen?

When the messenger left,

the city was on the verge of falling.

We

don't know its fate now.

This is bad.

If Mu Xun takes Sheng'an...

(Cui Quan, Prefect of Jinzhou)

Don't panic, Your Majesty.

Jinzhou is far from Sheng'an.

They won't reach us

anytime soon.

That's not far at all!

Mu Xun is ruthless.

Once he secures Sheng'an,

he'll come straight for us.

I have to leave.

I have to go.

I must leave at once!

I'm heading south!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty.

No way.

You mustn't!

No way they can cross the Yangtze River.

Your Majesty, you can't go alone.

I'll accompany you south!

Your Majesty!

Slow down.

Keep up! Hurry!

Come on.

I've come up with a good solution.

If...

If Mu Xun catches up with me...

Chancellor Liu and Yan Shang are both dead anyway.

I'll just say

it was Mu Wanyao!

She's the real usurper!

Yan Shang is dead?

(Next Episode Preview)

I'll order the Noble Consort's execution.

How thoughtful of you now.

No!

♪Be the ferry where you wait for the sun♪

♪Be the blue silk that catches your tears♪

♪Be the sleeve we held, worn by dust and years♪

♪Let's conspire to grow old together♪

♪Let me be a captive beast bound by the same lock as you♪

♪- Through trails of mud and blood; - let grief drown in your eyes♪

♪Soar with the wind; plunge into hellfire as one♪

♪Burning bright as a song♪

♪See how roses and green bamboo enchant♪

♪Be the vow I make with all my heart♪

♪If we say forever, then forever it shall be♪

♪Not a single hour less♪

♪However deep the snow, I'll wait if you're there♪

♪We'll be gods above, or wandering souls♪

♪In heaven or the underworld, you're all I need♪

♪If we can stay, let's return to the village of our first meeting♪

♪- May time be free of fear; - boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain; - lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪Sharp winds or fierce rain, nothing can break us♪

♪Be mine in this world; be mine in this life♪

♪My last untouched innocence♪

♪If only we could return to the village where we first met♪

♪Stay by me; help me forget the frozen dream of last night♪

♪Fireflies glow, flowers kiss our lips; just us, through dawn and dusk♪

♪- May time be free of fear; - boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain; - lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪By your side, through joy and pain, is that eternity?♪

♪Till fireworks flood the town♪

♪Till the lake is still and clear♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

(No animals were harmed or mistreated in production.)