Original subtitles

Episode 25

Welcome.

Hello, Lord Qian.

Hello, Lord Yan.

Hush.

Lay low.

Lay low.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

OK.

Isn't that Lord Fang's butler?

What's he doing here?

We know the Department of Imperial Carriage &Horse is lucrative,

but they shouldn't have sent an official's butler here

to swagger around, right?

How many savings could he possibly have?

How stupid of me!

Why did I come here in person

when I could have sent a butler or relative here

to represent me?

Luckily, I've got Lord Yan to keep me company.

Get up.

Get up.

Please.

Please take a seat, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Something isn't quite right.

What do you mean?

Everything is fine here.

The place is packed with guests.

It's so lively.

Isn't this more fun?

Listen to me.

The larger the audience is,

the worse

Qiao Busi is going to embarrass himself.

I can't wait to see

how he's going to wind this matter up.

Please enjoy it, gentlemen.

Hold on, Miss.

What…what's the matter?

Your hands seem too delicate

to do menial work.

You must come from a prestigious family.

You can tell that from my hands?

May I know your name, miss?

I'm Xia Yingying.

Yingying.

As bright and clean as jade.

What a beautiful name!

Yeah.

Miss Xia.

Allow me to introduce you

to Royal…

Mr. Ruo, right?

Please enjoy your tea.

Call me over if you need anything, OK?

I'm a bit busy now.

Shameless rascal.

I didn't come to this charity auction in vain.

Bravo.

Brilliant.

We have a full house now.

Shall we get started?

We shall entrust it to you guys.

Ladies and gentlemen,

thank you for attending our disaster-relief auction today.

I shall come straight to the point

because there are many flood victims outside

waiting to be fed.

So, we have two rules.

First,

the sale will be made to the highest bidder.

Second,

we only accept silver as payment.

All right?

Our charity auction begins now.

Yeah.

Yeah.

These people are quite rich, huh?

Unlike them,

all I can offer is this feast for the eyes.

Sure.

Wait and see.

I'll do a better job than he

when I go onstage in a little while.

I shall go help him.

Bravo.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Do you know whom this belt used to belong to?

The belt.

Whom did it belong to?

That's an excellent question.

I'll tell you the answer right now.

This belt used to be worn

by Lord Meng, Right Assistant Minister from the Ministry of Personnel.

Really?

Yes.

Lord Meng was wearing this belt

when he sat for the Imperial Examinations

and later passed the examinations.

Yes.

Later, this belt also accompanied Lord Meng

when he took office as Supervising Censor to inspect Shandong

and made a name

for defeating the evil officials there.

Yes.

That's right.

Since he wore this belt,

Lord Meng got promoted step by step

and was eventually made

Assistant Minister of Personnel.

That's right.

Upon hearing of the rampant flood

and the enormous number of victims in the area, Assistant Minister Meng…

Isn't that just a lousy belt

Assistant Minister Meng used to wear?

How much could it possibly be worth?

I'd like to see

what tricks Qiao Busi and Zhang Hongxuan

have in store.

He was compelled

to donate this belt

for our charity auction.

Ladies and gentlemen,

this is no ordinary belt.

It's a golden belt that has witnessed

the great achievements Assistant Minister Meng made

on his journeys north and south.

Assistant Minister Meng is a favorite with the Prime Minister.

The appointments and removals of officials in Jiangsu and Zhejiang

are decided by Assistant Minister Meng.

Today

we had no choice

but to auction this belt

at this charity event.

Dear well-wishers,

we hope you'll actively participate in the bidding,

because what you'll get is more than

just a belt.

Most importantly,

Heaven watches us from above.

Your philanthropic deeds

will be generously rewarded

by Heaven.

We start at 100 taels of silver. Come on.

We start at 100 taels.

110 taels.

A bid of 110 taels.

Are there

any higher bids?

120 taels.

A bid of 120 taels.

130 taels.

Opportunity seldom knocks twice.

Bid higher quickly.

It's a golden belt.

Lord Qian,

Lord Meng guided and supported me.

Now that his belt is at auction,

as the official notice at the government office gate announced,

please don't compete with me.

Lord Yan,

let's not mince matters.

In terms of qualifications,

I should have been promoted a long time ago.

Unfortunately, I have no connections in high offices.

This concerns my career.

This concerns my career.

What do you…

140 taels.

150 taels.

200 taels.

200 taels?

You should give up.

Don't you see?

People sent their butlers here

to bid as high as they could.

Aren't you afraid of attracting the Censor's attention

by spending loads of silver?

300 taels.

350 taels.

400 taels.

A bid of 400 taels. Any higher bids?

Any higher bids?

A lousy belt is sold for 400 taels?

Are these people crazy?

A blind cat caught a dead mouse.

It was sheer luck.

Done.

400 taels.

It's yours.

Bravo.

400 taels?

He bought it.

Xiaotian,

is this idea of yours going to work?

Yes, of course.

Those officials wanted to send us away

with this junk?

No way.

I, Ye Xiaotian,

will make sure that this junk

should sell like hot cakes at the charity auction.

If nobody wants to buy this junk,

these officials will be criticized

for being rich and heartless.

But if it's sold at high prices…

If it's sold at high prices,

the officials who made the donations

will be able to show that they're clean-handed

and seize this disaster-relief opportunity

to make a name for themselves.

Therefore,

they have no choice

but to vie to buy it.

These officials

will buy this junk at high prices,

and apart from them, those sycophants

will also join in the ruckus.

Any of you dare to bet

this lousy belt can fetch 200 taels of silver

at the charity auction?

Please take a look at this.

Show it.

This ink stone

belonged to Master Shanqiao, Chancellor of Wendao Academy

and the Capital City's Inspector of Education.

300 taels.

320 taels.

350 taels.

400 taels.

A bid of 400 taels.

Any higher bids?

500 taels.

A bid of 500 taels.

Sir,

Master Shanqiao is my son's teacher.

For my son,

I'm determined

to buy this ink stone.

Sorry.

My younger brother is to take Master Shanqiao as his teacher,

so I hope you could kindly give me a pass.

I won't.

550 taels.

600 taels.

650 taels.

A worn-out ink stone

could fetch this high price?

The ink stone may be worn-out,

but it was used by the Inspector of Education.

Those two are probably

trying to curry favor with the Inspector of Education

for their sons or nephews who are preparing

for the Imperial Examinations.

They spare no expense.

Oddly enough,

how come stupid Zhang Hongxuan and Qiao Busi

could think of this cunning move?

Could it be…

They must have got counsel from some genius.

Wow.

Brother Qiao,

you're awesome.

Any higher bids?

700 taels.

A bid of 700 taels.

I offer to pay 800 taels for it.

800 taels.

Any higher bids than 800 taels?

A bid of 800 taels.

No higher bids, right?

800 taels.

Done. It's yours.

Congratulations.

800 taels?

Seriously?

I believe

it was the lad sitting next to Zhang Hongxuan

who cooked up this scheme.

Well, he's really crafty,

since he came up with this mean trick.

Wow.

Brother Ye,

you're a genius.

Cultured bribery?

Yes.

Cultured bribery is covert and safe.

And it's arty-crafty.

Those who seek fortune

can get some remuneration

for their calligraphy, paintings

and articles.

Good.

So they take the remuneration quietly

without raising suspicion.

Those who seek fame

can attain their goal

if you help publicize his merits,

and they owe you one for that.

That's how you build connections.

I'm impressed by your theory.

It sounds uncanny,

but Lord Yang, you still ended up in jail, right?

There's no need to rub it in.

Alas, my brilliant tricks

only made it harder for the authorities

to detect my malpractice.

A habitually corrupt official like me

couldn't avoid being caught eventually.

I know this.

But it's too late.

But I'm not lonely,

as corrupt officials in the world didn't learn this lesson until it was too late.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the first half of our charity auction

has now come to a conclusion.

Please take a short break.

The second half will be even more wonderful.

Bravo.

Well done, Brother Luo.

Have a seat.

Drink some tea.

My voice is hoarse from the yelling.

You did an excellent job.

It was nothing.

I just presided over the auction.

We owe it to big brother's brilliant idea.

We owe it to your eloquence.

Stop it.

Oh right, Brother Qiao,

you should have the silver guarded immediately.

I've had it arranged.

Xiaokun.

Young lord.

Young master.

We're sure to win.

This time we're sure to win.

We're going to frustrate

that arrogant Li Xuancheng.

The first half

was just a warm-up.

The second half is the real deal.

The second half?

Right, Brother Ye,

I've wanted to ask you this question.

We've sold out all the donations,

so what are we going to sell in the second half?

We'll sell these.

Show the young ladies in.

They are rich mademoiselles

renowned in the Capital City.

They usually keep indoors

and rarely show themselves in public.

Girls, I must thank you

for consenting to come here.

Otherwise,

you wouldn't have the pleasure of meeting any of them.

Thank you, young ladies.

I've arranged a private room for you.

You could take a break in there.

Please.

Mr. Ye,

I did as you bid.

Did I do a passable job?

Now the stage is all yours.

OK.

Don't worry.

Aren't those women's accessories?

They weren't high officials' belongings.

How would they be sold?

They will be sold.

They'll be sold

and they'll fetch higher prices.

Just wait and see, gentlemen.

Mademoiselle,

Mr. Mei, Mr. Lan and Mr. Zhu

have arrived.

They keep following me

wherever I go.

What a nuisance.

They came here

because of our mademoiselle.

How could they let slip an opportunity like this

to win mademoiselle 's favor?

How could that fat girl hold a candle to me?

Listen, bros.

I'm dead set on winning

Miss Jia's heart today.

I have to warn you.

You'll be breaking with me

if you try vying with me to win her favor.

You guys don't have enough resources

to compete with me.

All right.

Cut it out, guys.

You're putting Miss Jia off.

I've mortgaged my silk store

and my pawnshop for Miss Jia.

Give up already.

Did you really have it arranged?

I can't find them.

Look, mademoiselle,

Wang and Li are seated over there.

When they're finished, I'll say…

I'd rather buy back my donations

with all my money

than lose to that coquettish Miss Jia.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the second half of our disaster-relief auction

has officially begun.

Please take a look.

This is a round silk fan

formerly used by Miss Jia, the beloved daughter of Uncle Jia.

Look, mademoiselle.

This round silk fan accompanied Miss Jia

for over three years.

500 taels.

A bid of 500 taels.

OK. Any higher bids?

700 taels.

Save your b breath.

I offer to pay 800 taels.

1,000 taels.

A bid of 1,000 taels

for Miss Jia's round silk fan.

Congratulations, mademoiselle.

What a fierce competition!

How dare that fat girl compare with me?

I didn't expect that the guy would play dirty

and pull off low tricks.

1,100 taels.

A bid of 1,100 taels.

You're not giving up, are you?

All right.

Let's see who admits defeat first.

1,200 taels.

Trying to flaunt your riches in front of me?

I'm not afraid of anyone.

1,300 taels.

A bid of 1,300 taels.

Any higher bids?

OK.

It's yours.

Congratulations. Congratulations.

Awesome.

Tell Wang and Li

that they needn't go back to the mansion

if they fail to bid for my stuff

at a higher price than that of the coquette's donation.

Yes, mademoiselle.

Are these people out of their mind?

I think

Brother Xiaotian has an insight into men's and women's thoughts.

They are just bored out of their minds.

Well done,

brat.

Come off it.

You're full of wicked ideas,

just like a sneaky monkey.

Can I ask you a favor?

Only you

can pull it off.

Could you help me

call together

those distinguished mademoiselles

and encourage them to make some donations

and preferably, attend our disaster-relief auction

in person?

Why would you invite them?

They're so delicate and sentimental,

shedding tears when reading a romantic tragedy.

They aren't going to be of any help.

They won't need to do anything.

All they need to do

is just stand there.

Really?

Ladies and gentlemen,

the next item for sale

is a Hotan jade hairpin that belonged

to the distinguished daughter of Academician Yin.

Mademoiselle,

it's finally your turn.

It's the highlight of today's auction.

This shows my social status.

We start at 400 taels.

500 taels.

600 taels.

700 taels.

800 taels.

900 taels.

1,000 taels.

Those two must be shills.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

Look over there.

1,500 taels.

1,600 taels.

What reckless young men!

The youngsters nowadays

think differently from you and me.

That's right.

We've become too old

to know the youngsters' mind.

1,800 taels.

2,000 taels.

Hey, you.

You're done bidding, huh?

OK. 2,000 taels, right?

OK.

It's yours.

Fantastic.

Congratulations, Miss Yin.

That's the highest bid today.

This great honor

certainly goes to you.

I'd rather lose money than lose credit,

and this shows that coquette

how charming people consider me.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you.

Our charity auction today

has thus come to an end.

You can rest assured

that all the silver we've obtained today

will be spent on disaster relief and the flood victims.

Thank you, everyone.

Great.

Thank you.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you.

We did a great job.

Girls, I'm indebted to you

for your kind assistance today.

It's nothing.

We're indebted to you.

Now people know how much we're worth.

Yeah.

Contact me

if you decide to hold another event, OK?

OK.

Fat girl,

you don't think you've lost enough money today?

Coquette,

what are you talking about?

All right.

You've had a long day.

Let me see you home.

Let's go.

Let's go.

That was brilliant.

You didn't know that?

I'm always brilliant, OK?

Listen, your image in my heart

is this big after the event today.

What was it like before that?

Before that,

it was this big.

Do you mean this big

or this big?

Come off it.

Where are Daheng, Yunfei and Zhan Ning'er?

Daheng went to pay those merchants rents,

I think.

Sister Ning'er

went to give thanks to those rich young ladies.

What about you?

You're idling about, right?

I'm keeping you company.

You've become honey-lipped.

What a surprise!

Yeah.

Brother Qiao.

Brother Zhang.

Brother Zhang,

I used to

look down upon you,

but this time I have to admit

that I must look at you with new eyes.

His Highness is so polite to us.

Am I daydreaming?

Indeed, I used to get above myself.

But I sincerely admire

those who are truly talented.

If I was disrespectful

to you two gentlemen,

I'd like to apologize to you

right here and right now.

Um… Since His Highness is ready to bury the hatchet

with Brother Qiao and Brother Zhang,

we must celebrate this happy occasion.

So,

let me play the host today.

We shall have a banquet at Misty Restaurant, what do you think?

Excellent.

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

As the saying goes, no discord, no concord.

I wonder if you two gentlemen would do me the favor

of drinking with me

and burying the hatchet with me?

Um, it's not that we don't want to go,

but we've got to find a safe place

to store this large quantity of silver.

We…

That can be easily arranged.

We're not short of hands here.

You can ask them to carry the silver to the Imperial College.

Since we're students of the Imperial College,

we only need to inform our teacher of it.

Besides,

the place is in the vicinity

and it's guarded by officers.

It's perfectly safe.

He's right.

Well…

All right.

Your Highness,

please allow me to introduce to you

Brother Ye.

The idea of this charity auction

wasn't mine. Amazing.

It was his idea.

Brother Ye.

Let me introduce you

to His Highness, Royal Uncle Li.

I'm Li Xuancheng.

It's my pleasure to meet Your Highness.

So you're a Royal Uncle.

I thought Ruo was your surname.

Mind what you're saying, Miss Xia.

This is the younger brother of the empress dowager,

His Majesty's uncle.

Brother Ye,

Brother Guan invited us to the banquet

he's holding at Misty Restaurant.

You must come and join us,

since you played a key role in the charity auction.

But we've got to deliver the silver

to a safe place.

And we need to talk to the grain merchant.

There're many matters to handle.

Big brother.

I'll escort the silver in transportation.

I'll buy the grain.

Yunfei is a kung fu master,

and Daheng

is good at doing business.

I can rest assured

if you two undertake the tasks.

Miss Xia,

why don't you come with Brother Ye

to the banquet?

Brother Ye showed wonderful foresight today.

I truly admire

that ingenious stratagem of yours.

Oh, right.

Earlier I saw many constables

patrolling the streets.

We might as well notify them

and ask them to help us escort the silver.

Good idea.

Brother Yunfei,

we're counting on you.

Don't worry.

Yunfei,

be careful on the road.

Come back as soon as possible.

Let's go.

Brother.

Wait a second, brother.

Do come and drink with us

when you accomplish your mission.

I don't drink.

There'll be delicacies as well.

I'm not hungry.

Hold on.

In those chests is the silver

to be transported to the Imperial College, right?

Right.

Well,

Mr. Qiao asked us to escort it in transportation.

Go ahead, please.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Brothers.

Yes, sir.

Guys,

the banquet at Misty Restaurant is ready.

Now please come with me.

Let's go get drunk.

If you boys are to drink wine,

we girls should go shopping.

We had an appointment with Sister Ning'er just now.

When did that happen?

Just now.

Perfect.

I'm going to talk to the grain merchant.

Let's go together.

If you guys are not going,

then I…

Brother Ye,

others could leave,

but you can't.

I was planning to take this opportunity

to drink a few toasts to you.

All right.

Daheng,

you can go shopping with us.

No, I won't.

You won't?

This is a new potion I prepared,

and it's called Kill You Now.

It won't do.

I'd be carrying the shopping bags for you if I went with you.

Why would I do that?

You won't go?

Anywhere else.

I won't go anywhere else.

Let's hit the road.

Let's go.

Don't spend all your money.

Well,

Brother Qiao, Brother Zhang, Brother Ye,

let's go.

Let's go.

Please.

Your Highness, please.

I have to meet with the grain merchant in a while.

Are you treating me as a camel?

A camel?

Get over yourself.

Yeah.

Even if you meet with him,

we won't be able to set up a soup kitchen until tomorrow.

There's no hurry.

But it takes time to bargain.

Stop whining.

Are you backing out?

I think the urgent task on hand is to enjoy shopping.

You shall enjoy shopping,

and I shall carry the shopping bags for you.

Let's go.

Dad.

What are you doing here?

Daheng.

What are you doing here?

I came to the city to open up a branch.

Will you give me a hand?

You see yourself as a camel?

Didn't you come to the city

to visit your sworn brother?

Judicial Clerk Ye

is currently incarcerated in the capital prison.

He must have suffered a great deal.

I see.

You bought all this stuff

as presents to the warden and the guards.

Dad, I…

Big brother Ye isn't in jail.

He was executed?

No.

He's attending a banquet

given by Royal Uncle Li at Misty Restaurant.

Brother Qiao.

Brother Zhang.

The charity auction today

was a great success.

I'm sure

from now on

those flood victims

will no longer suffer hunger.

You two gentlemen's sense of social morality

is so admirable.

On behalf of those flood victims,

I'd like to thank you again

for your charitable deed.

Come on. Cheers.

Come on. Have some more. Help yourselves.

All merchants

like hoarding and cornering.

Daheng is good at doing business

and we're to buy grain in bulk,

so we should be able to buy it

at a reasonable price.

Jiucheng Soup Kitchen shall open up

tomorrow morning.

Therefore,

Brother Qiao,

my case…

Don't worry.

I'll go talk to my father

after the soup kitchen opens up tomorrow.

You have nothing to worry about.

It's a deal.

Big brother,

the silver has been deposited.

Brother Hua,

you're late.

You must drink three cups of wine as punishment.

Yeah.

Sit down and drink with us.

I don't drink.

Come on.

Let's drink.

Your Highness.

Uncle Luo.

Big brother.

My dad is here.

Uncle Luo, what brought you to the Capital City?

I came here to open up a branch,

and…

I'm worried about my silly son.

Why keep calling me silly?

No.

You are a silly lad.

All right.

I won't stop you

if you love calling yourself a silly lad.

Besides, this silly dad is worried…

I mean, I'm worried about Judicial Clerk's situation.

I heard that Judicial Clerk was incarcerated in the Ministry of Punishments' capital prison.

But you can move about freely?

You must be friends with some top officials, right?

How come an old man like you

is as curious as a baby?

Thank you for your concern, Uncle Luo.

Look,

Daheng has been busy

helping out with my case.

I feel

so sorry about it.

Don't say that.

This silly lad

used to laze about

and muddle along.

He's like a different person

since he began to associate with you.

A right-minded friend is better than an erudite teacher.

A silly father loves lecturing his silly son.

Dad…

Daheng.

Uncle Luo,

have you found a place to stay yet?

Would you like me to have it arranged for you?

No, thank you.

I've got many friends in the Capital City,

and I need to talk business with them.

Don't bother yourselves about me.

OK.

Daheng,

take good care of your father.

He's not going to take care of me.

He's going to take money out of my pocket.

Big brother.

Contrary to what we expected,

Ye Xiaotian is in a totally different situation

in the Capital City.

A blessed man needn't worry about anything,

while a wretched man busies himself to no purpose.

Who'd have thought Ye Xiaotian

had a twin brother in the capital?

And they look identical.

But

it's just an expedient measure.

He's still a convict.

Shall we get him out of prison?

His case was examined by the Prime Minister himself.

Nobody dare intervene.

We shouldn't give him a hand

until he's in dire peril.

Only then

can we turn him into a trusted subordinate.

You're right, big brother.

Now let's find a good spot

to open up a branch.

We shall plant an undercover agent

here in the Capital City.

I see.

Sorry, big brother.

It's OK. Go ahead.

I'm your big brother, after all.

Brother Feng,

the two brothers

keep taking turns serving time in jail.

I can't tell

whether the man behind bars

is Ye Xiaotian or Ye Xiao'an.

Interesting.

It's interesting.

It'll surely become a legend

if spread far and wide.

Bye.

Take care.

What took you so long?

Greetings, gentlemen.

I heard about the charity auction yesterday.

It was such a charitable deed.

In this case,

I'm not going to force up the prices.

I shall sell you the grain delivered by the two newly-arrived ships

at fair prices.

You're a righteous merchant.

OK.

Let's go get the silver.

Please.

Centurion Qiao,

it's in that room.

OK.

Mr. Tong,

please ask your men to move the chests outside.

Big brother.

The locks…the locks on the chests have been tampered with.

Big brother,

the silver is gone.

How dare they steal donations?

How dare they steal my silver?

How did they steal the silver from the Imperial College?

Qiao,

calm down.

How the heck can I calm down?

The silver was deposited in the Imperial College.

All the three chests have been pried open,

yet your door remains intact.

The custodians of the Imperial College must have turned thieves.

You have to answer for this.

How dare you take such liberties!

I went out of my way to lend you a room to deposit your silver

and I gave you the key to the warehouse.

Now the silver is gone,

so the most likely suspect shouldn't be the Imperial College.

That's bullshit.

Of course you're the most likely suspect.

You did give me the key,

but perhaps you'd had it duplicated beforehand.

If I had been the culprit,

why would I have pried it open

rather than unlock it with a key?

Because by doing so,

you could easily impute the crime to the Imperial College.