Original subtitles

Episode 38

Shortsighted.

My big brother shouldn't have passed down

the position of Minority Headman to you.

How incapable you are!

Well,

in a month,

you must reseize

the Shuiyin Mountain of our Tian Family.

My respect to you, Heavenly King.

Though we failed to frame

the Zhan Family by the assassination of Ge Long,

all sides are at the point of starting a war now.

You should have taken the chance

to complicate the situation,

but you left

and suppressed the Yu Family,

so they couldn't take revenge at once.

Why?

Sorry to show you my ignorance, Heavenly King..

My family has already declined.

We have only a few chips,

so we dare not to bet all of them on Shuiyin Mountain.

The cooperation between your Tian Family and our Yang Family

is beneficial to you, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

You need me.

I need you, too.

Our cooperation

is imperative.

But why can't I see your sincerity,

Prefectural Commissioner Tian?

I, Miaowen, am in a hard situation.

My uncle suppresses me in the family.

I'm just a weak woman

and can't compare with you

who can decide

all things arbitrarily.

Why do I think you're still

on guard against me?

You're mistaken, Heavenly King.

I welcome the cooperation,

which benefit both of us and is a win-win.

We two families

must abandon suspicion

and cooperate sincerely

to make great achievements.

I have

a suggestion.

It can dispel your vigilance against me

and provide sufficient reasons

for me to get involved in Tongren affairs

and give you more help.

Please go on, Heavenly King.

Originally,

I had nine wives.

They are all daughters of Minority Headmen.

However,

my third wife

died of an illness

over two years ago.

I'd

like to marry you

and make you my third wife.

In this case, it'll be right and proper

for me to help you.

And you

needn't worry that

I have another plan.

Don't you think

I, Yang Yinglong can a good match for you?

No.

I get lost

at the excitement.

So do you agree?

That's exactly

what I want.

OK. I'll ask someone to make the marriage proposal now.

Heavenly King.

What?

Though I'm less powerful than you,

I'm a Minority Headman.

I can't marry off.

Even if we want to marry,

you should marry into our family and live with us.

So

you want me to change

my family name into Tian,

right?

You're mistaken.

My uncle is unhappy

aboutmy holding the post of Minority Headman

of the Tian Family.

If I change my family name now,

I'm afraid they may find fault with me.

Well,

we must be decisive to obtain an advantage when doing great things.

You're too tolerant of them.

Yes.

You love me so much.

Give me some more time

to handle my family affairs.

I know you'll handle them well,

but don't make our relation public.

I'll leave Tongren to you.

I see.

Ning'er,

you've grown up.

and are old enough to get married,

you should learn needlework.

Look at the other girls!

They all begin to make wedding dresses for themselves

when they are young.

When I was a young girl...

What happened?

Well.

Well, let me check it.

You should be careful.

My lady.

Mom,

my stomach hurts.

Go on with your work.

I'll go to the bathroom.

Be careful,

or you may fall.

Well.

I've resorted to tactics to provoke the chaos in Shuiyin Mountain.

As all forces are suspicious of each other now,

it's impossible to perform your engagement.

Ning'er,

I played a big trick on the lords

for you this time.

Are you satisfied?

How faithful a friend you are!

Minority Headman Yu was killed by an arrow shot from hiding?

The murderer escaped

and hasn't been caught?

Yes, My Lord.

Nowadays, the two brothers of the Huang Family,

the Zhan family,

and the Ge Family

and the Yu Family are blaming each other.

The situation is becoming more and more chaotic.

Prefectural Magistrate,

what do you think we should do now?

How could this be? How could this be?

How, indeed? How could this be?

It's you.

It's you.

You're such a bad guy.

Look what you have done.

I...

I'll deduct your relief fund.

Don't do that, My Lord.

It is not my fault that

Shuiyin Mountain is in such a mess today.

Why not

give me another chance?

I'm going back to Shuiyin Mountain right now,

and I won't come back

until this problem is solved.

Even if you still want to go,

I dare not employ you.

Get out.

Now.

Get out now.

Well...

What about the relief fund of our Hu County?

You'll get as much as

that of previous years.

Nothing more.

My Lord,

I have no merit,

but I worked hard.

Even His Majesty doesn't send hungry soldiers.

Get out now.

My Lord. My Lord.

Here, Lord Ye. I'm here.

Why are you here?

Both My Lady

and I came.

Yingying?

Where is she?

In order to come to see you in Tongren,

she has bought a house specially.

It's just by the Dongjiang River

with very beautiful scenery.

Lead me to find her quickly.

Look.

Here we are.

Ye's Mansion.

Brother Xiaotian, do you like it?

This is really grand and beautiful.

Am I amazing?

But, Yingying,

I'll go back to Hu County soon.

Why are you going back so soon?

So

actually, you can stay in an inn and wait for me.

There's no need to buy such a big house.

Did I make a mistake again?

No.

You're so smart.

How could you make a mistake?

This grand and beautiful house

is backed

by mountains and rivers

with good geomantic omen

and bright scenery.

I think the house will surely appreciate in value.

Maybe in a year

the value of the house can be doubled.

Yingying,

you are so discerning.

Really?

Of course.

Otherwise, why did I build

such a large house in Hu County?

Well,

since you haven't been to my home in Hu County yet,

go back with me this time.

As for this house,

let's wait for it to appreciate.

OK.

Ye Xiaotian can never return to power again.

The memorial you wrote to impeach Ye Xiaotian is very good.

My Lord, what do you think of it?

Every word is really like a knife

and every sentence is like a sword.

I'm flattered.

I think

nowadays, as His Majesty is in charge of the government affairs personally,

the Imperial Court is bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new,

which is the general trend.

People like Ye Xiaotian are old officials

who should be cleaned up.

The Imperial Court won't care about

such an inappreciable County Magistrate Assistant.

Your impeachment of Ye Xiaotian by submitting the memorial this time

will surely be adopted by His Majesty.

Great.

I will submit the memorial to impeach him tomorrow.

No. No. No.

Why?

My Lord,

Ye Xiaotian is a person that has earned many merits after all.

If you submit the memorial to impeach him alone,

you will surely leave an impression of

being jealous of the able and the virtuous on the Imperial Court.

Even if Ye Xiaotian is dismissed from office,

it is not good for you,

My Llord.

In your opinion,

what should I do?

Make all the officials impeach him jointly,

Which will prove thatYe Xiaotian has caused public outrage.

You must not take the initiative.

As the County Magistrate,

you can just listen to the opinions of all the officials with an open mind

and second the impeachment.

This...

My Lord,

is there any difficulty?

You have no idea that

Ye Xiaotian hoodwinks the public in Hu County.

He defeated County Magistrate Assistant Meng, County Magistrate Assistant Xu

and the bully Qi Mu in succession.

All the local officials

are afraid of him.

No one dares to stand out.

My Lord, you needn't worry too much.

I've already thought about that.

So I used a plan to transfer Ye Xiaotian out of Hu County.

My Lord, think about this.

The more all the officials fear him,

the more they will hate him.

Who will let go of the chance of

causing him dismissed?

Now you are in charge of all the affairs here,

and Ye Xiaotian is not in the state office,

so there must be some officials who dare to stand out, right?

My Lord,

you should be deliberate in counsel,

and prompt in action.

Only in this way, can we catch Ye Xiaotian,

the cunning villain.

Once you present the memorial,

you are doing the right thing

in the name of righteousness.

What are you afraid of?

OK.

I'll take your advice.

My Lord,

you're wise.

You're really wise.

I'll go to help them.

Man,

let me help you.

Listen to me.

After I count to three,

let's put forth our strength at the same time, OK?

OK. OK.

Come on.

One. Two. Three.

One. Two. Three.

One. Two. Three.

Hum?

Silly girl.

Let's go.

Cui'er.

Madame.

Your help is no longer needed here.

Just leave.

Yes, Madame.

What are you doing?

It's in the daytime.

Don't touch me.

What if someone sees us...

BrotherYuncong,

you are so loyal to County Magistrate Assistant Ye.

What will you do

if he is dismissed one day?

Will he be dismissed?

Why?

I just said that without thinking.

My good Cui'er,

I love you so much.

Is there any secret between us?

Well.

Be on the alert.

Yunfei,

he is one of us.

Let him come over.

I see.

Brother Xiaotian,

something went wrong in the state office.

I have to leave first.

OK.

Don't worry about us.

Old Li,

Yingying and the relief fund

are entrusted to you.

Yunfei, let's go.

Yes.

You guys,

I've made the gains and losses

very clear to you.

What do you think of

joint impeachment of Ye Xiaotian,

the Acting Magistrate Assistant of Hu County?

-This matter... -I think this matter...

This matter remains to be discussed.

You guys,

who would like to affix your signature tothis memorial?

How do you think about it, Madame?

My Lord,

County Magistrate Assistant Ye has been devoting himself to the public interests

and has won the trust of the people.

But the charges listed in the memorial are...

Master Gu,

I am ask ing

who would like to affix the signature.

But, My Lord...

This...

Affix your signature

or shut up.

Ye Xiaotian,

your time for arrogance is running out.

People do not want to harm tigers,

while tigers do harm to people.

County Magistrate

has repeatedly hurt me.

How can I bear it?

Then don't blame me for defending myself.

But...

But I can't agree

to your request at all.

I'm his wife.

Just because you are his wife,

you need to step forward bravely

to prevent him from making a big mistake

and save his career.

Ridiculous.

Your put forth such an excessive request.

How can you say that

this is to help my husband?

Madame, think about it.

If the memorial of impeaching me

is submitted to the Imperial Court,

the Imperial Court won't kill me without proving, right?

By that time, the Imperial Court will ask me to write a memorial of defense,

and will send Judicial Guardians to investigate me.

Of course, that will be the case.

Madame, County Magistrate or me,

who do you think can get more help

considering our deeds in Hu County?

This...

By that time, County Magistrate will be charged with

lodging a false accusation.

Secretary Wang,

what do you think?

I...

I feel uncomfortable.

I... I... I really...

I really can't hold on.s.

I, Ye Xiaotian, never call myself a man of noble character.

I only act on my conscience.

For Lord Hua,

I treat him with a clear conscience.

But Lord Hua

has bullied me repeatedly.

Isn't he afraid that I will fight back based on his crimes?

My husband is an official free from corruption and bribery.

What crimes of him can you find?

Tax collector,

a few days ago, I received a tip-off,

saying that

you embezzled money,

took bribes and bent the law.

I know that

you have always been a pure and upright official

free from corruption and bribery.

You must have offended some villains,

right?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

My Lord, how wise you are.

I...

I'd like to submit the memorial with you.

My Lord. My Lord.

I'd like to join you.

The “Painting of High Mountains and Flowing Water”

is the masterpiece of a famous painter

and an antique of the previous dynasty.

It is worth at least one thousand taels of silver on the market.

Do you think

it's a refined bribe?

But...

But you gave it to me as a gift.

Are you

going to be the briber?

Did I give it to you?

No.

I was forced.

I was blackmailed by County Magistrate.

You...

You...

If I remember correctly,

County Magistrate once published a book of essays and reading notes

through the Hong's Publishing House, right?

So what?

As the saying goes,

publishing a book

can at least earn back the money of marrying a concubine.

Listen,

our family

didn't make a penny from that

but spent a lot of money

on printing books.

That's your one-side statement.

Who can prove that?

What do you think

they will say

if I go to visit the Hong's Publishing House

and some of the gentry?

You...

You are framing my husband.

No.

I'm just dealing with a amn

as he deals with me.

Madame,

in the Capital City,

I have Assistant Minister Lin of Ministry of Rites as my friend

and

Minister Qiao of Ministry of War as my ally.

If there is a lawsuit between us,

who do you think will win and who will lose?

For me,

there are only two outcomes,

either turning the tide

or perishing together.

But for you,

there is only one outcome,

that is County Magistrate

will be dismissed from office

and lose all his standing and reputation.

Inspector Luo,

what do you think?

My Lord,

I...

Hello, everyone.

Why is he coming?

This is

a familiar scene.

He shouldn't have come back.

It should have taken him at least two days

to get back.

How could he come back so soon?

Was the secret disclosed?

What's going on?

Tax Collector Chang is suffering from a serious illness.

Someone, come

to help Tax Collector Chang go to see a doctor.

Tax Collector Chang.

Lend me a hand. Hurry up.

My Lord,

I was ordered to go to Tongren to seek relief fund,

but unfortunately, with all my efforts,

I could only raise the same amount of fund

as that in previous years.

Neighboring counties have also been hit by a natural disaster this year.

Prefectural Magistrate must have taken it into consideration.

It's good enough that

you've raised the same amount of relief fund as that in previous years.

Thank you for your understanding, My Lord.

By the way,

I wonder why you gathered

all the officials in the county

here today.

This...

Well. How can we tell?

My subordinates and I

are debating your accusations against you.

We have reached a consensus

to jointly impeach you.

Impeach me?

My Lord, did I hear that right?

You took bribes,

dominated the market,

forcibly occupied a married woman... Stop.

Stop. Stop. Stop.

I don't want to listen to those excuses you made up,

and nor will I admit them.

I just want to know

who intend to impeach me.

Well...

My Lord,

a brave man wins when encountering the enemy in a narrow path.

Ye Xiaotian,

don't try to intimidate your colleagues.

I am aboveboard

and have a clear conscience.

Master,

Tax Collector Chang...

Tax Collector Chang fainted

and has been sent to the doctor for emergency treatment.

Why is Tax Collector Chang so seriously ill?

Tax Collector Chang has been suffering from a heart disease.

Just now he was frightened

and had an attack of his old illness unexpectedly.

In that case,

we'll discuss today's issue another day.

Let's all

go to visit tax collector Chang.

What Lord Ye said is right.

That's right.

It's time to show our concern for our colleagues.

Don't leave. Don't leave. Don't leave.

No one is allowed to leave

before the matter is over.

This...

Sit down.

This...

Then let's sit down.

You all sit down.

Ye Xiaotian,

I bear no personal grudges against you.

This move is entirely for the sake of the people of Hu County.

You have committed numerous crimes

during your time in office.

I'll impeach you with all the county officials.

Ambassador Cang,

Official of Department of Prison,

you two now go to sign on it.

I'm going to affix a stamp to and seal with lacquer

and then submit it to the Imperial Court.

Ambassador Cang is having an attack of his old illness.

I'm sending him to see a doctor now.

Lend me a hand. Jailer Li. Lend me a hand.

What can we do about this?

Prisonkeeper Wang,

stop.

I know what you're thinking.

This... This...

Well.

You're afraid of him,

but I'm not.

You're unwilling to sign on it.

Well then

I'll submit the memorial to the Imperial Court with my name alone

to impeach Ye Xiaotian.

Ye Xiaotian,

what can you do with me?

My Lord,

since I assumed office,

I think I have never done anything

harmful to you.

I don't know

why you have such a big prejudice against me.

But a clean hand wants no washing.

I'm sure the Imperial Court

will dome justice.

The relief fund is on the way back

and will arrive in two days.

Please don't forget to send people to receive it.

In order to prove my innocence,

I ask for suspending myself from my duties

and will await the imperial judgment at home respectfully.

Ye Xiaotian,

do you think the government affairs

of Hu County won't work without you?

How dare you threaten me with resignation.

Well.

I approve it.

Now that you have approved it,

I will leave.

Justice naturally inhabits a man's heart.

I believe

there will be the day when the truth comes to light.

By that time,

I hope you will still be in office,

and you can put aside your prejudices

and cooperate with me

to govern the common people.

As you can see,

Ye Xiaotian resigned on his own initiative,

and I didn't force him to do so.

Master.

Master.

Wife,

why are you here?

Madame,

are you really going to do what County Magistrate Assistant Ye said?

After thinking twice,

I think what County Magistrate Assistant was right

and there is no other way.

But, Madame...

In this way,

Master will hold a grudge against you.

He is my husband,

and even if he misunderstands and hates me,

I have to save him anyway.

There's really no other way.

Master,

you're in a poor health,

and I worry about you very much,

so I'm here

to help you go home to have a rest.

Nonsense.

How come I'm in a poor health?

Cui'er, help Master go back quickly.

Get out!

This is the law court

where women are forbidden to show up.

Get out now!

Cui'er, what are you standing in a daze?

Master. Get away from me!

Stop making trouble.

Are you going to make me divorce you?

Attendent, come here.

My Lord. My Lord.

Get both of them out of here.

Master,

I won't leave.

Master,

if there is something,

you can talk with me in the backcourt.

What are you doing here?

Stop.

Under such circumstances,

I have no choice but to say it.

Everyone,

actually,

my husband has got the mental illness

due to his busy official business

and melancholy all day,

so what he did just now

was really not his intention.

And please tolerate him.

Nonsense.

Don't believe her.

I'm not crazy.

I'm not crazy.

Everyone,

I have a prescription prescribed by the doctor,

which proves that

my husband is really suffering from the mental illness.

You can pass it around

and have a look.

This...

This... This... This...

It's a prescription.

Give it to me.

Don't believe in her nonsense.

I'm not crazy.

I'm not crazy. I'm really not crazy.

I was too emotional just now.

I behaved a bit rudely.

I'm really not crazy.

I'm not crazy.

My Lord,

we all know you're not crazy.

Yes. You're not crazy.

You and your wife please go to the back court to have a rest.

Let's talk about the matter tomorrow.

Talk about it tomorrow.

Nonsense.

You do think I'm crazy.

You want to fool me to go to the backcourt.

Do you think I can't figure it out?

I...

My...Lord...

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.

You know nothing.

I'm really not crazy.

This matter is of great importance.

Let's help His Excellency

go for a rest at first.

This...

Obviously, you bought off the doctor.

You're having an affair with Ye.

You two are in collusion with each other.

You're trying to kill me.

You all know nothing.

In Ye Xiaotian's room,

there is the “Painting of Orchids,”

on which, there is the inscription of my wife.

I saw the “Painting of High Mountains and Flowing Water”

in my wife's room,

which was presented by Ye Xiaotian.

Do you know orchid?

Orchid's charm lies in its leaves,

right?

As the saying goes,

the charm of orchid lies in leaves (Ye) rather than flowers (Hua). Do you understand?

His surname is Ye,

while my surname is Hua.

Don't you understand what this means?

Do you understand?

Understand?

Yes. I understand.

One night

I came to Ye Xiaotian's room for something.

Then I saw my wife

hiding under his table.

She was under Ye Xiaotian's table.

They did something shameful.

They!

Attendant, come here.

Help Lord Hua get out.

Hurry up.

Stay away from me.

What I just said is true.

I'm not crazy.

I'm not crazy.

I'm not crazy.

What I just said is true.

My Lord.

Slowly.

What happened?

What's going on?

What, indeed?

What's going on?

It's really...

What a pity.

Yes.

Are you hungry?

Let's get something to eat.

OK.

Shopkeeper, serve me with a main room.

Guest, please show me your traffic permit.

Let me check in for you.

What?

Traffic permit.

Traffic permit, right?

Well,

my traffic permithas been stolen.

Sorry.

If you have no traffic permit, I dare not take you in.

Master,

you're not crazy.

I surely know that.

But...

But what you're doing now

is unreasonable.

Master. Master.

Shopkeeper, how about

my giving you extra money?

Please do me a favor.

You may not know that

if it were a few days ago,

I would allow you check in for several days,

but now,

I dare not.

Why?

The second master of our county just came back from Tongren.

It is County Magistrate Assistant Ye,

whose character is like Bao Zheng, the typlical strict official.

To accept private gains under his jurisdiction

is tantamount to violating the state law.

Yes.

But, shopkeeper,

-can you do me a favor? -Guest,

if you don't have no traffic permit,

please leave now.

Shopkeeper, you...

Si,

close the door.

Shopkeeper, please do me a favor, OK?

Guest, please leave now.

Master,

on that day,

I went to the place of County Magistrate Assistant Ye alone,

because...

Because I never expected

you would come.

Then

I was wondering...

I was wondering how I could explain to you

my presence at his house.

Stop. Stop.

Because the truth

is not like what you think at all.

If I don't tell you,

you'll never understand.

What is the use of your explaining it now?

Is what I saw an illusion?

What did you see?

What did you see?

You just saw

me under his table.

But can this prove that

there is a love affair between him and me?