Original subtitles

[Cry Me A River of Stars]

[Ep16]

[High Priest Mansion, Azureland]

Welcome, Lady High Priest.

Let me introduce you.

This is Deng Ran, my distinguished guest.

Let's eat.

I will have someone take you to the Lotus Pavilion for a rest after lunch.

Certainly.

That is my room.

Deng Ran will have it from now on.

Let's eat.

Take these.

Take these.

In Azureland, men are not allowed to eat at the table.

You will serve Lady High Priest for luncheon today.

Why?

You don't know how to do it?

How can you ever serve her ladyship then?

Yeah.

How will he do that?

Come.

Sit.

No. That's not allowed.

Men are not allowed at the table.

That's the rule.

You are the High Priest.

How could you break this rule?

Ignore them.

Sit.

This...

How can he eat at the table?

Yeah.

That's not OK.

We can't sit.

Let's eat.

Please excuse me.

Please excuse me too.

Us too.

- Please excuse us. - Please excuse us.

They've become presumptuous.

Ignore them.

Here. Try this.

This is my chef's specialty dish.

[Nanshan]

Nanshan.

Why are you here?

Are you alone?

Aren't you afraid the governor

will kill you once he finds out?

Lian Qi took Fan away.

I have to bring her back.

The High Priest bloodline that the governor brought back is Fan?

Yes.

Lian Qi must be guarding Fan right now.

I cannot approach her

just by myself.

You mean...

You want to familiarize yourself with Azureland

and take Fan away.

Yes.

Ruby works closely with Lian Qi.

We must find Fan

by following her.

Why are you telling me this?

You knew who I was

but you kept silent

and you came to see me now.

What do you want?

You spared my life before

and I should requite the favor.

But as you can see,

I'm just a servant.

There's nothing I can do.

- Let's go. - Yeah.

Geez.

It's late.

How can I help you?

Help me?

I wanted to see how are you liking my room.

I don't understand.

Maybe you are slightly more handsome than us.

But how can the High Priest be so partial to you?

[Hanwen Yelei]

Yeah.

You're no better than us.

Gentlemen, please

leave this till tomorrow.

You do not want to

disturb her ladyship.

You filthy thing, how dare you

to speak up to me.

You're a grown man.

How can you hit a child?

I have no intention to compete with you.

Please leave me alone.

What a hypocrite.

You have all her ladyship's attention, but you say you don't want any.

If that's true,

why are you still here?

Yeah. Just pack up and leave.

Who wishes to drive him away?

My lady.

I said,

if anyone gives Deng Ran a hard time,

it won't end well for them.

We have served you for a long time.

How come we don't get this treatment?

Look at him. Then look at yourselves.

You know why.

I can favor anyone I like.

If you have a problem,

just leave.

Behave yourselves.

If I ever find out

that you caused trouble for him again,

I won't let you off easy.

Now leave.

Each of you will be flogged 20 times.

This...

20 times?

I...

I can't take that.

My lady, please...

Go.

It's none of my business.

They dragged me here.

Go.

Yes.

Tonight, we can...

This kid is smart.

I'd like to have him around.

It's his lucky day then.

He's your servant from now on.

Take good care of Mr. Deng.

Yes.

My lord, didn't you say you were tired?

Please go to bed.

Sure.

Anything I can do for you, my lady?

No.

Have a good rest.

I'll come to see you tomorrow.

Yes.

Look at her.

You will have a hard time.

Yes.

That's where I need you.

I...

Father.

I miss you.

How are you now?

And how is Lord Tao?

[High Priest Mansion]

What are you doing here?

I'm here to restore justice for your concubines.

Justice?

You?

I'm head of the Male Protection Association of Azureland.

Enlighten me.

What did I do

that got you here.

You punished your concubines

with flogging for the new one.

Is this true?

They are my concubines.

So they're my belongings.

I can treat them however I wish.

You, on the other hand,

trespassed to the High Priest Mansion

and questioned the High Priest's behavior.

I can get you arrested.

How dare you?

What are you doing here?

Taking my man.

What I see as trash

is gold to you.

Sounds like you're into collecting garbage.

Ruby, I follow Fan willingly.

Do not think you can do whatever you want

just because you have the governor on your side.

Do you recognize this?

This drug has embarrassed me

in front of

everyone.

Do you think I don't know you did it?

These dirty tricks disgust me

to my guts.

Next time you try to set me up,

do not leave a trace.

You...

Why?

Do you want to hit me?

the governor is too kind.

I'll be the bad guy

and teach you some manners.

Guards, come in.

Seize them.

Yes.

Deng Ran.

What are you doing?

You said you'd come to see me today.

What's taking you so long?

You came here to see me?

Are you upset because I didn't show up?

I was going to see you for luncheon.

I got caught up in something.

Let's go.

He looks like Lord Tao.

[Lian Mansion]

What's wrong with me?

I didn't even see his face.

But I can't stop thinking about him.

No, no.

All I care about is his lordship.

I can't think about another man.

Not to mention

Ruby's man.

Are you waiting for me?

Why?

Why do you look guilty?

I do not.

Did you go to see Ruby?

How do you know?

I guess you have me all figured out.

You should get ready

for becoming the next High Priest.

Are you serious?

Can I refuse

to be the High Priest?

You're the High Priest's descendant.

This makes you the real High Priest of Azureland.

But I think

Ruby is doing a good job.

If she's not OK,

you can do it.

This is about the fate of Azureland. It's not a joke.

Plus,

you disagreed with

some of the customs in Azureland.

If you become the High Priest,

you can change

anything that you find unreasonable.

Anything I find unreasonable?

In a week,

the annual Bell Contest

for the Azure Festival will kick off.

This is a great chance for the people to accept you.

Ruby will run too.

Since you disapprove of her,

you should beat her at the game.

But I...

Don't say no.

I already have you enrolled.

Fine.

But

this Bell Contest...

How

can I beat Ruby?

I can't.

Yes, you can.

[High Priest Mansion]

My lady, do you need me?

What's wrong, my lady?

Who upset you?

Ask yourself.

She knows that we put drug

in her food.

Pardon my negligence.

Please give me another chance, my lady.

How?

I heard

she is running the Bell Contest

under the governor's help.

What?

Looks like

she's serious about challenging me.

Yes.

And she has the governor on her side.

No.

I can't let her win.

Go.

Find some master-hands for me.

As long as I can win at the Bell Contest,

I will be fine.

Yes, my lady.

Little brat.

You're dead.

What's going on?

Help, my lord.

This little brat

spilled the Guaranteed Daughter Tonic

that we were cooking.

Guaranteed Daughter Tonic?

Why, do you not know?

This tonic

cost us a fortune.

It's from a guru.

The guru said

we should drink the tonic

at the Yin hour of the Yin date

of the Yin month at the Yin year.

Now it's spilled

and the hour passed.

How will you compensate us?

How do you like?

How do we like?

You can never compensate us

for how rare the tonic is.

How about this?

I have the Baby Girl Pill right here.

You're guaranteed with a daughter

if you take this before sex.

All yours.

I don't believe you.

A guru sold it to me

a few days ago.

I trust you don't have the nerve to lie.

I'll take it.

To think,

you withheld such a pill.

And you say you don't plan to compete with us?

Why did you

get this pill then?

I don't believe any medicine

can control the sex of the baby.

So I bought this

to do some studies.

Since you want it,

you can have it.

You sound like you don't give a damn,

but really you do.

I've seen a lot like you.

Giving birth

is a natural process.

You can't really control it.

Stop it.

You wanted the brat

to stop us from having daughters.

Yes.

You're scared of losing her ladyship's favor.

We are all men.

But you look down on yourself.

All you do

is try to please a woman.

You...

In my opinion,

that's utterly pathetic.

In Azureland,

men have a lower status.

We should obey the rules

and serve the women.

No questions asked.

My lady, Deng Ran

is being disrespectful.

Deng Ran is different.

I'm not surprised at what he said.

What? I...

I know

that you induced him of saying that

so that he'll get punished.

His servant

spilled our tonic.

You seriously

believed in that?

You could have been killed by it.

You should thank Deng Ran for this.

My lady, that's not what we were talking about.

Enough.

Period.

You had your compensation.

Now drop it.

You are excused.

Yes.

You can go too.

If you dislike them,

I'll send them all away.

No need.

They simply care about you.

You're so handsome yet so sweet.

I'm lucky to have you.

Thank you for your help, my lady.

If you're truly grateful,

do something for me.

What is it?

Join me at the Bell Contest.

The annual Bell Contest at the Azure Festival?

With your help,

I believe

I can beat Li Fan.

This is a great opportunity to approach Fan.

Certainly.

I'll do it.

These people volunteered to join you in the game.

Pick four.

I'm strong

and muscly

with great power.

Pick me.

I'm lighter than a bird

and flexible.

Pick me.

I'm balanced with muscular endurance.

Pick me.

Pick me. Pick me.

Pick me. Pick me.

Pick me. Pick me.

Pick me. Pick me.

Pick me. Pick me.

Pick me.

How about this?

The Bell Contest

requires endurance and flexibility.

Let's see.

Round one, weighted sprint.

The last six will be eliminated.

OK.

What about me?

You can do it.

Ready...

Go.

[Lian Mansion]

Liao, faster.

Liao.

You can do it.

Liao, faster.

I can do this.

I can't let Fan down.

I can't let myself down.

I won.

I won.

I won.

I won.

Game over.

Liao,

congratulations. You passed.

I did it.

Do not gloat.

There's another round.

More?

Thank you, Fan.

I couldn't have done it without you.

You only made it to the team.

The training is ahead of you.

Although,

the training will do you good.

Training?

Check out our new stone weights.

Let's go.

You can get strong with these stone weights.

Check it out.

Here, pick a pair.

I'll have these.

That's too light.

Get these.

These ones.

They are way too heavy.

The clock is ticking.

You need to power through.

Is it really necessary?

Let me tell you,

I will supervise you every day.

You're dead meat

if you dare slack off.

I won't.

That will be two tael.

Sure.

Why are you wearing a mask?

Do you remember when you first met me?

I do.

You were surrounded by many girls.

Now you are all mine.

To avoid that situation,

I thought I'd wear a mask.

You're so thoughtful.

I wish not to cause you trouble, my lady.

Since we're out,

let's have a good time.

Certainly.

You're such a loving couple.

These are on the house.

No, no.

You misunderstood.

We're not a couple.

Here, take these.

Forget it.

Don't explain.

Sounds like you're trying to cover it up.

Let's go.

You two surely are very intimate.

I don't want to have a fight.

Don't provoke me.

Me? Provoking?

You're the High Priest.

Behave like one.

Deng Ran, look at them.

You should

watch your behavior

in public.

What are you looking at? He's mine.

Hands off.

Like I care.

Let's go.

My lord.

I miss you so much.

Let's go.

Check out our stone weights.

Have a look, sir.

Have a look at them.

Are you thinking about that man?

He looks

just like my fiance at Midland, Tao Junran.

Tao Junran?

Isn't he

the Head of the Bureau of Military Affairs?

You know about him?

Sure I do.

Tao Junran

is the biggest enemy of Azureland.

I have no idea you two were connected like this.

I kept thinking

if only I'm not the daughter of the High Priest.

That way, I can be with the man

I love.

But now we're separated.

I don't even know if he's alive or not.

And I can't do anything

apart from sitting here.

Rest assured.

Lord Tao

will survive it.

I miss him so much.

I really want to see him.

Liao.

Can you get me out of here?

What?

You want to leave?

I had no interest in becoming the High Priest.

Here, I'm just a body without my soul.

- I... - Please.

Fine.

How about this?

I promise

I'll help you

whenever I see a chance.

Thank you, Liao.

That's alright.

You said it.

We're friends.

Deng Ran.

It's been two hours.

Did you miss me?

We were out for so long.

Aren't you tired?

Why don't you...

You have prevaricated several times.

Today...

we spent time together.

That's not tiring for me.

My lord. My lord.

Did you say

you were exhausted from earlier?

I'm here to offer a message.

You're excused.

I'll do it.

Wait.

How could you do this, my lady?

My lady.

Please have a rest.

Deng Ran.

What do you mean?

I've been nothing but caring and loving to you.

What more do you want?

I can't even be intimate with you?

I thought

you were different from the other women.

Turns out

you're just one of them.

I'm not forcing you.

Don't be upset.

I always felt

this kind of intimacy

should happen naturally

when we both feel right.

We've only known each other for a couple of days.

You're rushing it.

And you say

you don't just like me for my appearance.

I admit

that your face is pleasant to look at.

But you're also a delight to be around.

I see.

I will not rush it again.

Don't be upset.

I'm leaving now.

Amazing.

We can't stay here anymore.

My lord,

is that

really you?

♫ Spring arrives in the city behind me ♫

♫ You and I kiss and make up ♫

♫ Love and hatred are nothing but so ♫

♫ No one can replace you or me ♫

My lord.

My lord.

My lord.

Is this really you?

♫ Our gaze is locked ♫

♫ No one concerns the tears ♫

♫ For we only hear the voice exchanges between us ♫

♫ Neither right nor wrong is the answer ♫

♫ Happiness blankets ♫

It's me.

I'm here.

♫ If the wind is a poem ♫

But how?

♫ I will write my history ♫

Are you injured?

Did you have a hard time?

I'm not injured.

I'm here at Azureland.

I'm hiding in a place

that you can't think of.

I thought

I could never see you again.

♫ Before it settles ♫

I'm here

to take you away.

Will you come with me?

I will.

All I want is you.

Remember your words.

♫ If the wind is a poem and cloud the paper ♫

♫ I will write my history ♫

♫ As an entire life ♫

♫ In search of you ♫

My lord.

My lord.

Where are you going?

♫ Through the turbulence of times ♫

My lord.

♫ Before it settles ♫

♫ Waiting for spring to come ♫

My lord.

♫ Only to sleep in the train of thought ♫

It was a dream.