Original subtitles

Episode 32

My Lord,

surely I know

the common people should provide conscript labour,

but my husband had served for four times this year,

working for nearly two months.

If you acted impartially,

he wouldn’t die.

Is what

she said true?

Yes, it’s true,

but we have no choice.

We had never recruited unpaid workers

so frequently before.

Nor had so many people been transferred at the same time.

The records of the Department of Revenue are a mess.

The statistics are confused.

Moreover, County Magistrate Assistant Xu pressed us hard,

so we appointed workers at random.

That’s why some people serve repeatedly,

while some have never served.

County Magistrate Assistant Xu?

Yes.

Lord Xu, what’s wrong?

Clerk Dai,

look what your department has done.

I need workers to repair the post road.

You recruited three men from some families

but appointed no one in other families.

Complaints are heard everywhere.

What the hell is going on?

My Lord, many clans live together in this county,

and each has its own customs.

It’s really hard to recruit workers.

Especially in some tribes,

a character can be used as a name.

Seven or eight characters can also be used as a name.

Moreover, there are many surnames.

Some use their fathers’ surnames,

while some use their mothers’.

They don’t seem to be from the same family,

but actually they are.

There is no fixed rule for their names,

so it’s hard to avoid mistakes.

Is it hard to avoid mistakes?

Or you have to make mistakes

because you accept bribes?

Dear villagers,

the collapse of the post road

is something that none of us wants to see.

Natural and man-made disasters

are unavoidable.

Because of the confused household registration,

some people haven’t served

as they are supposed to.

We will

come up with a solution

to prevent this from happening.

Now you jam the door of yamen,

and we can’t work.

Please go back first.

I promise,

within three days,

we will give you

a satisfactory answer.

Rise.

Now that the Judicial Clerk backs you up,

you can rest assured.

How to solve this problem

within three days?

What I said is true.

I didn’t mean to fob you off.

Since you’re incompetent,

I’ll replace you.

Li Yuncong.

Yes, My Lord.

Li Yuncong,

I know

you work very hard

these days.

From today on,

you’ll be the Clerk of the Department of Revenue.

Thank you, My Lord.

I’ll

serve you well

and work hard

until my dying day.

Rise.

Yes.

County Magistrate Assistant.

Get the hell out of here.

You can’t remove me from office

unless the County Magistrate agrees.

You don’t

have the final say.

Fine. Go back to the Department of Revenue first.

I’ll report this to the County Magistrate

and get his approval.

Hey, you.

Me?

Yes.

Come over.

Judicial Clerk Ye.

Secretary Wang is sick from overwork?

Yes. My Lord.

Where’s County Magistrate Assistant Xu?

Well,

ever since the war broke out on the southern border,

he has moved to the post station

for on-site command

and smooth transportation of the post road.

Taking advantage of the war on the southern border,

on the pretext of maintaining the smooth post road,

you quickly control the finance

and personnel appointment and removal in Hu County

as Hua Qingfeng doesn’t dare to hold the post.

I’m satisfied.

Thank you. My Lady.

I’m flattered.

You have done a good job.

Don’t be too modest.

As I promised you,

if you get a firm foothold in Hu County,

I will help you make rapid advances in your career.

I’m extremely obliged to you.

I won’t let you down.

I’ll work hard to repay your kindness.

Why are you so surprised to see me?

My Lord, you’re alright?

Sure.

I just came back from the Capital City.

You know,

the officials in the Capital City liked me so much that

they urged me to stay there,

but I didn’t want to leave Hu County and all of you,

so they had to give up.

Then I came back.

It’s good that you’re back.

Go to work.

Tell the buddies that

we’ll get together tonight.

Okay.

Great changes took place in the Imperial Court.

I just came back from the mediation in the Central Plains.

I passed here

and stayed specially.

Since its establishment,

Hu County has nothing unusual to report.

Hua Qingfeng accomplishes nothing,

so the Imperial Court is disappointed with him.

Now,

his term will end soon.

Try harder

and you may replace him.

Be a seventh-rank county Magistrate first.

Okay.

County Magistrate,

your three-year term will end soon.

In all likelihood, you will be appointed to another important post

by the Imperial Court.

County Magistrate Assistant Xu is bossy,

but he can maintain local peace.

Don’t care so much.

It’s good for everyone

to maintain the current situation.

What do you think?

It’s good

for everyone

except me.

Wang Ning profits by the occasion.

Xu Boyi

is like Meng Qingwei.

No, he’s more domineering than Meng Qingwei.

My Lord, you’re finally back.

Why do you work as handymen again?

Alas.

My Lord,

after you were escorted to the Capital City,

we’re in bad luck.

Xu Boyi always

plays the same trick.

My Lord,

it’s an old trick,

but it works.

After you left,

Xu Boyi becomes more and more powerful.

He makes County Magistrate Hua a mere figurehead

and acts in collusion with Secretary Wang.

Many people in yamen

change to serve him.

That’s right.

Li Yuncong is an example.

He’s now

the favorite of Xu Boyi.

I forget all about eating and sleeping

and repair the post road

with all my heart,

but

many clans live together here

and household registration is a mess.

There is something wrong with

the requisition of workers.

I’m thinking about how to solve it.

I have heard about it.

In this case,

why don’t you call on the people to name themselves

according to the customs of the Central Plains?

Then

you can manage the household registration easily

and make great achievements in educating the local people.

Change their names?

Judicial Clerk Ye.

I was framed by some villains

and taken to the Capital City for interrogation.

I set my heart on the common good,

so they got nothing on me.

Now I’m restored to my post.

I’m back.

I didn’t leave

for long,

but great changes have taken place

in the yamen of Hu County.

I remember when I first assumed office here,

yamen had no prestige

among the people.

When you went to the countryside on duty,

people gave you a dig,

and swore at and beat you.

It’s a wonder that

the yamen

was so miserable.

Later, under my leadership,

especially after the bandits of the Dragon Gang

were suppressed,

the yamen had high prestige

and was gradually supported and loved

by the people of Hu County.

But why do

the people hate you again

after such a short time?

You’re talking about something alarmist.

You just went back,

so you don’t know the situation here.

How come you conclude that the people hate us?

Who are you?

Wu Jiayu.

It was very kind of County Magistrate Assistant

to appoint me the Clerk of the Department of Works.

Why did you slap me?

What did I do wrong?

If you don’t tell me why,

I’ll appeal to County Magistrate Assistant,

and you…

You don’t know why I slapped you?

Now the south is at war.

In order to ensure the transportation of post road,

County Magistrate Assistant stays on the post road in person.

Secretary Wang is sick from overwork

and recuperates at home.

But you, a humble servant,

stay in yamen happily.

You don’t do you own work

but put your finger into my pie.

Since you push yourself forward,

I have to teach you a lesson.

Who’s the Shift Head of the Zhao Squad?

Judicial Clerk Ye,

I’m the Shift Head of the Zhao Squad, Qu Xin.

You can’t even guard the entrance to yamen.

How can you be a Shift Head?

I remember that Ma Hui was the former Shift Head of the Zhao Squad.

Where’s Ma Hui?

Judicial Clerk Ye,

here I am.

You guard the warehouse now?

Yes.

From today on,

you’re the Shift Head of the Zhao Squad.

Yes.

And you.

Yes.

Go back to

lead your squad.

Yes, My Lord.

When I left,

Xu employed you.

A bunch of bums.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

I was appointed by County Magistrate Assistant.

So what?

I have

the final say here.

In the past and now.

I defy every law and regulation.

If you didn’t know that before,

now you must have known.

What?

Judicial Clerk Ye has been back?

I heard from the front yamen that

he has sent the people

at the gate of yamen away.

Now he’s lecturing the members of

eight squads and nine departments.

Well,

go to the front yamen.

Once you find the right opportunity,

take Judicial Clerk Ye to Santang.

But Madame,

Master hasn’t come back yet.

I know.

Even so,

we can’t neglect

such an important person.

You know,

Judicial Clerk Ye

got Master out of trouble.

No more talking.

Go right now.

Okay.

What’s going on?

Why is the door

closed in the daytime?

My Lord, some people made trouble here some time ago

for an unknown reason.

Ye Xiaotian drove them away

and closed the door.

Go to knock at the door.

Okay.

Open the door.

Open the door.

Lu?

What are you doing here?

Where’s the doorman?

Well,

you don’t want me

to open the door for you?

Fine.

Wait outside.

Wait for others to open the central gate

and welcome you warmly.

Wait. Wait. Wait.

Stop that.

Tell me.

Why is the door closed

in the daytime?

County Magistrate Assistant,

Judicial Clerk is lecturing

the members of

eight squads and nine departments.

No one guards the door,

so it’s closed.

What?

Get out of the way.

County Magistrate Assistant, please.

Bah.

Lackey.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

long time no see.

Lord Xu,

long time no see.

Your case

has been solved?

Yes.

Some villains were jealous of my ability

and maliciously framed me.

The truth came to light

soon after I went to the Capital City.

Lord Xu,

when I was in the Capital City,

the ministers of the six ministries

liked me very much.

The ministers of Ministry of Punishment, Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Rites

wanted to persuade me to stay,

but I was unwilling to leave Hu County.

I was worried about the people and matters

in Hu County,

so I came back.

It’s good that

you’re back.

You’re young, promising,

bright and capable,

being a rare talent in Hu County.

It is a great honor that

you’re back

in Hu County.

I’m flattered.

I’m hardworking and dedicated.

Now the war is on in the south.

You stayed on the post road,

and Lord Wang was also sick.

When I heard this,

I admired you very much.

But

some indolent people

acted against your kindness

and accomplished nothing.

But don’t worry.

I have taught them a lesson.

Moreover, I have adjusted

the three squads.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

is it rash

for you to do that?

You just came back.

You have to

sort things out.

Really?

Soon after I left,

you hurriedly transferred my subordinates

to the tea room,

the warehouse etc..

Is it rash

for you to do that?

You’re blaming me.

I dare not.

I have been

accustomed to their service.

Since I came back,

I have to transfer them back.

What if I don’t agree?

Then you can submit a written statement

to the Imperial Court

and ask for an obedient Judicial Clerk.

Ye Xiaotian,

you have gone too far.

Do you really think I can’t do anything to you?

Lord Xu,

why are you angry?

Both of us are officials.

Sometimes we have different political views,

but we can administer in our own way.

I’ll bear

the responsibility

for what I do.

Why are you angry?

Lord Xu,

look.

Look at my face.

Judicial Clerk Ye slapped me.

He slapped me

for no reason at all.

I work in the Department of Works.

How could he slap me?

Lord Xu,

don’t listen to his one-sided statement.

We had a dispute caused by personal feelings.

Sometimes it’s normal to have a quarrel.

If you feel wronged,

sorry.

Xu Boyi wants to slap me,

or he can’t back down with good grace.

That’s enough!

Lord Xu, why did you slap me?

I…

As you see,

Lord Xu slapped me.

How can you slap him?

Why?

How can you slap him?

Lord Xu,

how can you slap him?

Well…

Lord Ye,

our master invites you to meet him in Santang.

Yamen has undergone great changes.

To give the people pensions in three days,

I must draw County Magistrate Hua

over to my side.

County Magistrate.

Judicial Clerk Ye.

It’s really you.

Great.

You’re safe.

Madame.

Isn’t County Magistrate in?

Cui, serve some tea.

Judicial Clerk Ye, please have a seat.

My husband has gone to visit Secretary Wang,

but I have sent someone to inform him.

He’ll be back soon.

It’s okay, Madame.

Now that County Magistrate is out,

I’ll come another time.

Don’t bother.

It’s okay.

You know,

after you went to the Capital City,

we were worried about you.

It’s good that

you’re back safe and sound.

Sorry about your suffering.

My husband was too weak

to protect you.

He’s deeply ashamed of this.

It’s nothing that

he has to come back hurriedly.

Thank you

for your concern.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

you’re absent-minded.

Are you worried

because everything has changed

after you came back

to Hu County?

It’s normal for me to feel strange

as I left for several months.

But you stay here all the time.

Why do you think everything has changed?

I’ll speak frankly.

There is resentment

between you and Xu Boyi,

but Xu Boyi uses despicable means

to make my husband a mere figurehead and hoodwink the public.

My husband is angry about this.

In fact, you and my husband

have common interests

and a common enemy.

Thank you for your kindness.

I have to go.

Judicial Clerk Ye.

Master, we’re home.

The front yamen?

The people have left the front yamen.

Here’s the back yamen.

Good.

Honey,

you’re back.

I’m so tired.

Honey,

do you know who came just now?

Who?

Judicial Clerk Ye Xiaotian.

Ye Xiaotian is back?

Why didn’t you keep him?

I tried.

I kept persuading him.

I hoped he could work with you

to hold back Xu Boyi.

What did he say?

He said…

You’re right.

County Magistrate and I have the same enemy,

but do you think

we can truly be allies?

My husband is honest and tolerant.

He’s a gentleman.

Madame,

I believe that you know better than I do

how bad things are in Hu County now.

I let slip a golden opportunity,

so if I take a wrong step,

I may lose the game altogether.

If you place yourself

in my position,

do you think your husband

is reliable

given his character and temper?

Judicial Clerk Ye,

my husband…

I have drawn lessons from my mistakes.

But I think

now the only best way

is to join hands with Ye Xiaotian.

It’s mainly because

you failed him many times in the past.

Although he has refused for a reason,

I think

if you show him

your sincerity,

I believe

he’ll treat you with all sincerity.

Well…

Don’t hesitate.

Think about his character.

He’s straightforward,

righteous and sensitive about his reputation.

He’ll change his mind

if you show him

your sincerity.

Sounds reasonable.

I’ll go to visit him right now.

Master, Madame,

I just came back.

My office was left unused for long.

Sorry that I can’t serve you with some tea.

It doesn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter.

Judicial Clerk Ye, don’t stand on ceremony.

My husband was excited

when he knew that you were back.

After you left,

he complained

whether I neglected you.

I left because I had something to do.

It doesn’t matter.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

sorry about your suffering.

I didn’t suffer.

I was lucky.

My visit to the Capital City was threatening but not dangerous.

But Lord Hua,

you don’t look well.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

don’t make fun of me.

I feel ashamed to

recall what I did to you.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

it’s my fault.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Lord Hua, Madame,

what are you doing?

Sorry that I failed you.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

hope you can let bygones be bygones

and work with my husband

to solve the current problem.

We have to discuss this thing slowly.

Lord Hua, Madame, please be seated.

Honey, sit down.

Okay.

The problem

is complicated,

but it’s easy to solve.

We just need to do two things.

No matter what Xu Boyi does,

he’ll be under your control.

What things?

First, we need to placate the families of the victims.

The government should give them an account.

I promised them an account

within three days,

so they left.

Yamen has no money.

Lord Hua,

this is related to popular support.

Even if yamen has no money,

we can take some

from other funds

to solve the problem first.

Of course,

they can’t demand exorbitant prices,

but pensions

are necessary.

You have no idea.

Xu Boyi has

all the money in the county.

I’m penniless.

Asking Xu Boyi for money

is like grabbing food from a tiger.

Lord Hua,

Xu Boyi is only responsible for repairing the post road.

I can understand

why you gave him the power to appoint or remove personnel.

How could you give him the financial power, too?

He forced me repeatedly

on the grounds of ensuring the unobstructed post road.

Moreover, the Imperial Court repeatedly

required the unobstructed post road.

I had to take the whole situation into account.

Ye Xiaotian is lucky.

You framed him up

and took him to the Capital City,

but he didn’t get killed.

Now he’s back.

He may invent a charge against us.

Now I have both financial

and personnel power.

Moreover, we work together.

No matter how capable Ye Xiaotian is,

he’s definitely not our rival.

Honey,

I think Judicial Clerk Ye is right.

The matter of pensions

must be settled as soon as possible.

I think you can

pay the pensions in the name of the county government.

I can

give you the money first.

I think we have to get back

the financial and personnel power as soon as possible now.

What do you think?

Honey,

I’m incompetent.

Sorry to get you into trouble.

Honey,

we’re a couple.

Don’t regard me as an outsider.

We have to find a way out.

Lord Hua,

your wife has a point.

As long as

the families of laborers are settled down,

they will be reassured.

As to your wife’s money,

after the county government has money,

we’ll pay her back.

Next, let’s talk about the second thing.

If it’s done,

you’ll get back

the financial and personnel power

as your wife said.

Tell us about it.

In fact,

the people made trouble

not because of the collapse of the post road.

The confused household registration of the Department of Revenue

resulted in the improper appointment of laborers,

so relevant personnel

must be severely punished,

so as to pacify the people.

What do you mean?

First,

all the petty officials of the Department of Revenue

should be severely punished.

Forfeit their salaries for half a year at least.

Li Yuncong is the Clerk of the Department of Revenue.

Dismiss him from office.

Now the Department of Revenue is in the charge of Secretary Wang,

so you have to impeach him.

Xu Boyi should be blamed for

the mistakes in laborer appointment.

Why?

Think about it.

Those laborers who were mistakenly appointed

had surely complained to Xu Boyi

after they were taken to the post road,

but Xu Boyi didn’t report this thing to you

nor correct the mistake.

Instead, after the accident happened,

he shifted

the blame onto you.

So he should be impeached

for dereliction of duty.

At last, it’s your turn.

What’s wrong with me?

You’re the Magistrate of Hu County.

You must be responsible for

the mistakes

made within your jurisdiction.

So you have to submit a letter of self-impeachment

to the Imperial Court to plead guilty.

Moreover, to make amends for your crimes,

you also need to go to the post road in person

to take charge of the repair.

Good idea!

Honey, it can kill

two birds with one stone.

Think about it.

With these measures,

you’ll deflate the arrogance of Xu Boyi and Secretary Wang.

Moreover, you’ll regain

the financial and personnel power.

It’s a good idea,

isn’t it?

What’s wrong?

You,

you have no idea.

Some laborers died,

so relevant people should be impeached,

but now,

we need hands.

A slight move in one part may affect the situation as a whole.

Moreover, if the Imperial Court knows that

we don’t get along well with each other…

Lord Hua,

if you always play the good-guy role,

others will think you are weak and can be bullied.

As an official, you have to temper justice with mercy.

It’s time for you to demonstrate your power.

It’s not proper.

It’s too aggressive.

Too aggressive.

We have to solve the problem slowly.

Lord Hua,

you have to be fair in meting out rewards or punishments,

and then your subordinates will regard you with reverence.

Now Xu Boyi has

the financial and personnel power.

If you don’t take some strong measures,

how can you take back

your power?

I agree.

Judicial Clerk Ye is right.

You’re always indecisive,

so you suffer.

It’s time to

bring order out of chaos.

Shut up.

Don’t chip in

when we discuss the affairs of the county government.

Lord Hua…

Judicial Clerk Ye,

this matter is very serious.

I have to consider it.

You just came back,

so you must be tired.

Go back to have a rest.

You’re right.

I just came back.

There are many things to be done.

I have to go.

Judicial Clerk Ye.

Judicial Clerk Ye.

Honey.

After my big brother went to the Capital City,

many servants

in this house left.

So we transferred you here temporarily.

You’ll be the housekeeper here.

Set the house in order.

Okay?

Young Lord Daheng,

I’m afraid I can’t

manage such a big house.

Why?

It’s very easy.

Just make Osmanthus Jelly for me every day.

What’re you talking about?

What’re you talking about?

Tao Tao,

don’t listen to his nonsense.

There are not

so many rules here.

Luo Daheng isn’t choosy about his food.

He eats everything

like a pig.

It’s easy to raise him.

Your main work later

is to accompany me to go shopping

and chat with me.

It’s very easy.

Go.

Stop laughing.

She is right.

It’s like feeding a pig.

Big brother.

Chiliarch Jia said

since we have come to Hu County,

we should govern it well.

After all, it’s the bridgehead

the Imperial Court uses to deal with Yang Yinglong.

No mistake is allowed.

In addition, Xu Boyi is close to the Tian family in Tongren.

It has been not our personal grudge only

but is related to the Imperial Court.

I don't think Hua Qingfeng that coward

can be depended on.

We’d better act as planned.

That’s what

we can do now.

Heavenly King.

Why don’t you take a nap?

Is it because that Ye Xiaotian

goes back to Hu County from the Capital City?

This is surely a good thing,

but another thing is more wonderful.

I don’t understand.

The Imperial Court is already building

the post road within Hu County

to facilitate the transportation of goods and materials.

Is it related to your plan?

As long as this road is completed,

the Imperial Court will need to pass by Hu County

even if it wants to send a needle to the frontline.

Once I’m in trouble,

I can send an elite troop to occupy Hu County.

On one hand,

I can cut off the retreat road of the Imperial Court

to besiege it;

on the other hand,

I can resist millions of troops of the Imperial Court,

having nothing to worry about.

That’s to say,

building this road

is of great significance for you.

Hu County is the lifeline of half of the Southwest.

Whoever controls this lifeline

can overwhelm the Southwest.

I think

the Imperial Court is helping me.

Yunfei,

however we fight,

we must guarantee the transportation of the post road

to avoid ruining the Imperial Court’s plan.

I’ve talked with Daheng

to let him tell

the castellans of those two villages.

Tomorrow, you can go to the post road

with peasants of the Gao and Li Villages

to figure out its condition

to get ready to take it over.

Big brother,

leave it to me.

But I heard that the remnants of Qi Mu

seem to follow Xu Boyi.

I’m afraid if I’m away,

you will be in danger.

I can protect him.

Here. Have some fruit.

Did you cut them?

What are you laughing at, Hua Yunfei?

Is it funny?

Is it ugly?

I have something else to do.

I’ll leave.

Goodbye.

Hua Yunfei.

Hua Yunfei, come back!

Enough.

Don’t call him.

What a messy fruit plate!

Don’t do what

a girl should do later.

It’s not suitable for you.

Fruit is used to be eaten,

not to be appreciated.

It tastes good.

Madame, look.

It rains so heavily.

How about going some other day?

No need.

Going in the rain

can show our sincerity,

right?

Well, let’s go.

Madame, take care.

Coming. Coming.

Stop knocking.

Who do you want to meet?

County Magistrate secretly asks me

to consult with Judicial Clerk Ye about something important.

Please come in.

Master,

two people come from the country government,

saying that County Magistrate secretly asked them

to consult with you about something important.

I see.

Invite them here.

Yes.

What are you doing?

I’m eating fruits.

Can you eat them in another room?

Didn’t you hear it?

I’m not free.

Why do I need to leave?

As a girl, you should pay attention to your reputation.

We shouldn’t

stay together

late at night.

Your reputation.

Go. Find another place to eat fruits.

I’m your buddy.

Go. OK.

I’ll eat them in another room.

Master,

they’re coming.

You can leave.

Yes.

Why do you come

in such clothes late at night?

I’m sorry

to suddenly visit you

on this rainy night.

I’m anxious to meet you for something important.

Please have a seat.

Judicial Clerk Ye,

I come to consult with you

about the thing we talked about

in the daytime in the country government.

Did County Magistrate change his views?

My husband is honest and tolerant.

He is not good at framing others up.

But under the circumstances,

even if he doesn’t frame others up,

others will frame him up.

He can tolerate this,

but I can’t.

So, so I come to ask you

whether we can continue the matter

we talked about in the daytime?

But the one who will

cooperate with you

is not my husband but me.

Madame,

please forgive me for my rude words.

Though you’re dignified,

I am afraid…

I see.

Though I am not the County Magistrate,

I can do

what my husband does.

And others will not detect it

but think it’s done by my husband.