Original subtitles

Come, let's keep drinking.

Let go. Give it to me.

What outsider?

It's your own father who is lying in bed!

He only cares of Zhang Yuanqing and her son.

He's never cared about me.

Xiao Renyan.

Parents have their own difficulties.

As their children, if we only consider things from our perspective,

of course we'd think they're selfish and preferential.

There aren't any parents who don't love their children.

Perhaps they are hiding their affection too deeply,

so you can't see clearly.

Xiao Renyan, think it over well.

When you were little, didn't your father kiss you or hug you?

Didn't he teach you about studying and behaving?

Even if he is bad in many ways,

given your scandalous reputation these years,

but you've still kept your position as the marquis' heir,

who has been supporting you from behind?

Xiao Renyan, whatever is making you put on a disguise, I have no idea.

But, when you saw the marquis pass out, your anxious gaze couldn't lie.

That kind of gaze,

Meng Hanjiao didn't have it. Xiao Ming didn't have it. Zhang Yuanqing especially didn't have it.

Only you, Xiao Renyan, had it.

Xiao Renyan,

in the entire Marquis' Manor, only you are the one who truly cares about the Marquis.

That's true.

Even if he is bad in many ways,

he is still my father.

You've thought it through?

- Yeah. - Let's go.

We're going home.

Come on.

My Lady, I have a little headache.

Are you really drunk?

What do we do?

Why don't you carry me on your back?

You're so heavy, Xiao Renyan!

Be careful.

We're almost there.

Be careful. We don't want your stepmother noticing.

Xiao Renyan never speaks his true thoughts.

He clearly cares about the Marquis' health,

but he's bent on wasting his energy pretending to be unfilial.

Father, I was unfilial.

I'm sorry for angering you.

Zhang Yuanqing is prone to suspicion.

If I don't put on a disguise even as Xiao Renyan,

I won't be able to monitor Zhang Yuanqing's every movement in secret.

Father, don't worry. I'll defend the Marquis' Manor's reputation.

Xuefei.

Has His Grace's medicine been brewed?

Orders have been disseminated.

Good.

Remember to brew it with the prescription I gave you.

Only then will His Grace recover.

Yes, Madam.

I'll take a look at his condition.

You're dismissed. Make sure no one disturbs us.

Yes.

Your Grace, you're awake.

Here, have some water.

Your Grace.

Your Grace, you've slept for a day.

I've been worried sick waiting by your side.

Your Grace, don't be agitated.

Yan'er went too far this time.

The imperial physician said that your anger triggered a heart condition.

Yan'er infuriated you to the point that you spat out blood and fainted.

With such a huge commotion,

the Marquis' Manor's reputation will be tainted.

Your Grace, it's best if you present a memorial soon.

Make Ming'er the heir.

That'll preserve the manor's reputation.

I've already asked the manor's chief secretary to draft it.

You just need to leave your fingerprint.

[Memorial] Come on, Your Grace.

Leave your fingerprint.

Things have already come to this.

Why are you still defending that useless son of yours?

You're sick, but he's getting drunk at brothels.

He's a sloppy riffraff.

How is Ming'er worse than him?

Why is he the heir?

Old fool!

I'll tell you the truth.

You're leaving your fingerprint today.

Stamp it down! Do it!

Once you do it, Ming'er will be the heir.

Isn't Xiao Renyan just that bitch's son?

Why must Ming'er live in his shadow?

Stamp your fingerprint! Old crone!

Damn you!

You ruined the memorial!

The poison of the Lost Soul Flower is hard to cure,

but it's not incurable.

I will find the one who poisoned him.

Even if Father woke up, he wouldn't be able to speak much.

Why did he suddenly sit up?

Something must've gone wrong.

Regardless, we have yet to succeed. Word of this can't spread.

Stepmother!

Did you just say that my father woke up?

Why are you two here?

His Highness is here to visit his father.

Father said he doesn't want to see you.

Yet, you're still so devious.

You even sneaked out here in the middle of the night.

What's your true motive?

I came to visit Father out of filial piety.

What other motive can I have?

But what about you bunch who've sneaked here in the middle of the night?

Why is that?

Ming'er is worried about His Grace's health.

His Grace woke up briefly before fainting again.

It's late. You should return.

Come back in the day.

Stop.

There's blood on your feet.

What did you do?

Is that His Grace's blood?

Ming'er, check on His Grace!

Yes, Mother.

What did you do to His Grace?

Crap.

Don't worry. Leave this to me.

Mother!

Mother, things are bad.

Father is unconscious, and he spat out tons of blood.

These two must've sneaked into his room

and infuriated him again!

You angered His Grace to the point of vomiting blood twice.

Your unfilial behavior is outrageous!

I have to report this to the Imperial Clan Affairs Office.

Stepmother, why did my father vomit blood?

Are you sure you're clueless?

The blood on this handkerchief comes from His Grace.

I know.

She's been eyeing my title as the heir for her son,

but she's way too anxious.

This woman is so vicious.

My dad must've been blind.

By the way, what did you do to my father just now?

I sealed all his meridians with a hairpin

so that his blood will circulate slower.

What are you doing now?

Does the blood on this handkerchief belong to His Grace?

Yeah.

I made two discoveries.

Firstly,

you pretended to be drunk and deceived me.

I was a little drunk just now,

but I sobered up after that.

I didn't do it on purpose.

Secondly,

the blood on this handkerchief is black.

It also reeks of a strange smell.

It smells like a poison unique to the Northern Desert.

The Lost Soul Flower.

The Lost Soul Flower?

Yeah.

Great.

The blood on this handkerchief proves where you've been!

His Highness and I found this handkerchief by His Grace's bed when we visited him.

Take a closer look at who this handkerchief belongs to.

That's an old handkerchief of mine.

I must've left it in the room.

I wonder when it got stained with blood.

Don't bother asking!

These two must've plotted to harm Father!

Father is lying on the bed without a scratch.

Go in and you'll see.

As for the blood, I'm about to offer an explanation.

Which one of you has the best nose?

Me.

Take a good sniff.

What other scent is on this handkerchief

other than the smell of blood?

There's a peculiar fragrance.

That's right.

His Grace vomited blood and fainted

not because he was angry at His Highness,

but because he's been poisoned with the Lost Soul Flower.

What Lost Soul Flower?

I've never heard of that.

The fragrance on this handkerchief is proof.

The imperial physician already said that it was a stroke. Why are you so sure that he was poisoned?

Not only do I know that he was poisoned,

but I also know of a cure.

Is that true?

Marquis of Xuanping's pulse indicates that his heart is inflamed.

His blood flow is smooth.

How could he have been poisoned?

A fragrance in the blood?

That must be a fragrance that was already on the handkerchief.

Jingshu, you're young and a daughter of a respectable family.

You can't possibly know about poisons.

Apologize to the imperial physician at once.

Imperial Physician, your excellent medical skills are admirable.

Medicine is profound area of study,

My Lady, please refrain from making casual statements in the future.

However, curing an illness is akin to an arduous battle.

If you're so conservative and can't tell right from wrong,

you'll be fighting a losing battle during a war.

Preposterous!

You might be proficient in medical herbs,

but how much do you know about the Lost Soul Flower unique to the Nothern Desert?

Even the imperial physician is clueless.

How can you possibly know anything?

The Lost Soul Flower comes from the Northern Desert.

It blooms in winter and has a peculiar fragrance.

Medical records state

drying it under and sun and crushing it into powder for consumption

will cause continuous coughing in a person.

They will then vomit blood and faint.

My father did have such symptoms.

His Grace's coughs were due to a lung affliction caused by cold air entering his body.

The Lost Soul Flower is an untraceable poison

precisely because its symptoms are similar to a stroke.

It's hard to notice.

If we continue treatment only based on observable symptoms,

His Grace will lose his life.

You claim that His Grace has been poisoned,

and promise that you have a cure.

Fine, take out the antidote right away.

I don't have the antidote.

You're just blabbering nonsense!

You want to cover up your scheme of sneaking into my father's room.

Imperial Physician, do you have golden needles for acupuncture?

Of course.

I don't have the antidote,

but I can perform acupuncture to expel the poison.

I've been a doctor for 23 years.

I've never heard about expelling poison through acupuncture.

This is a wide world filled with mysteries.

My father hasn't gotten better despite taking so much of your medicine.

How about letting Jingshu give a shot at acupuncture?

You're truly insolent.

What if the acupuncture doesn't work?

Don't worry.

The golden needle poison expulsion is a lost skill passed down in the Liu family's medical doctors.

Even though I only know a little,

I'm confident of expelling the poison in Father's body.

If the acupuncture fails,

I'll walk into the Imperial Clan Affairs Office's prison with Liu Jingshu.

Mother, are you really going to let them mess around?

Don't you want Father's illness to be cured?

I don't believe Liu Jingshu is that capable!

Jingshu.

Go on with the acupuncture.

She has such delicate and experienced acupuncture skills.

Is she telling the truth?

Father!

Don't move!

Father!

- Great! - His Grace can't stop vomiting blood!

Did the acupuncture hurt his heart meridian?

Men!

Capture these two scheming rats who tried to kill His Grace!

Lock them up in the ancestral hall.

Save it. We can walk there ourselves.

Father.

Take a seat.

You can flee.

Why?

Who knows what Zhang Yuanqing is up to

by locking us up in this ancestral hall.

You know martial arts.

How about taking refuge in your home?

Don't worry.

His Grace will be fully recovered in a few days.

Are you sure?

But he vomited so much blood.

Didn't you realize that the blood he vomited was bright red?

Since he's vomiting fresh blood,

that means the poison in his body has been expelled.

As long as he recuperates well, he'll recover soon.

He'll definitely be out of danger.

Sometimes, I really wonder

if you're really the pampered daughter of a rich family.

Aren't you full of surprises too?

Everyone has their secrets.

Women are just the same as men in this aspect.

Initially, I wanted us to live our separate lives.

Now, I'm growing interested in your secrets.

Why would I tell you my secrets?

You should get some sleep while there's time.

We still have to deal with that old lady tomorrow.

Are you hungry?

Yeah.

Wait here.

What a useless stomach.

Why is it acting up now?

Here.

These are offerings for your ancestors!

Besides, I'm too fat.

I'm dieting.

We're the descendants my ancestors have to protect.

They won't bear to watch us starve.

When I was really young, my mother always joked with me.

She said she'd get me a fat wife.

If she were still alive,

I bet she'll feed you even more.

Eat up. You aren't fat.

Look! A shooting star!

Wow! It's gorgeous!

The floor of the ancestral hall is really hard.

You're really a pampered young man. I bet you've never slept on the floor.

Aren't you the spoiled daughter of a general? Have you slept on the floor?

I... definitely haven't!

My shoulders are aching from a night of that.

I'll massage them for you.

Men, open the doors.

Yes!

Liu Jingshu.

You performed acupuncture on the Marquis of Xuangping without permission,

causing his life to be at greater risk.

A grave crime.

An unpardonable sin.

The Marquis' Manor should have you trialed at the Imperial Clan Affairs Office,

but since you're the daughter of the respectable Liu family,

Madam has decided to be gracious with you.

You can stand before this ancestral hall

and end your life.

As long as I'm here, none of you will touch my wife.

Yan'er, this woman tried to kill your father.

Why are you still defending her?

Exactly! Here's what I think.

She should be locked up in the Imperial Clan Affairs Office and punished severely.

Mother, you're too kind.

Xiao Renyan, listen up!

If you insist on opposing this, you'll be penalized too!

You should be the one leaving.

This is the Marquis of Xuanping's Manor.

This isn't Grand Preceptor's Manor.

You have no right to be speaking here.

Yan'er, how could you be so rude to Grand Preceptor Meng?

Has this woman bewitched you?

Why are you still standing there? Get the heir away!

Get lost!

What are you waiting for?

You can't avoid this.

Refusing to move?

I'll do it!

I'll kill anyone who tried to harm her.

Let go!

Are you trying to rebel?

Xiao Renyan, let go of my uncle.

Big Brother, don't be rash.

The imperial edict has arrived!

His Majesty has heard about the doubts

concerning the Marquis of Xuanping's grave illness and vomiting of blood.

He has specially appointed the heir of King Wei as the investigating censor

to investigate this matter.

No mistakes will be allowed. That is all.

What's going on?

What do you think?

Zhang Yuanqing is truly troublesome.

I have to ask for help.

Xiao Hui, you have to send this letter to Wei Honghe.

Your Highness, there's a letter for you.

Don't bother me. I'm training.

- It's from Liu... - Boss? Give it to me!

Boss wrote me a letter?

She married Heir Xiao?

No wonder I can't locate her!

No, I have to save her!

Give me the sword.

Give me a lighter sword next time!

Goodness!

Boss, did I make it in time?

Yeah, if you were a second later,

Grand Preceptor Meng would've been strangled to death by Xiao Renyan.

Boss, why did you marry to Xiao Renyan?

Are those rumors about Sister Jingshu fleeing from marriage true?

My sister didn't flee from the marriage. She went missing.

I married into the Marquis of Xuanping's Manor to look for my sister.

Xiao Renyan is notorious for being a playboy in the capital.

Did you already do that with him?

Do what?

That.

What's in your head?

Both of us are clean! Got it?

I'll look for Sister Jingshu with you.

When we find her, we can return to the military.

This puny capital city is so suffocating.

- Okay. - Oh?

You seem very chummy with Heir Wei.

Heir Wei used to serve under my father.

That's how I know him.

Heir Xiao.

Sorry for intruding in your manor.

You're too courteous.

My father is gravely ill.

I'm in charge of everything in the manor.

You just have to report your investigation findings to me.

There's no need to bother my wife.

How can I do that?

Only Sister Jingshu can identify the Lost Soul Flower.

Isn't that right?

Yeah.

Sister Jingshu? That's really affectionate.

How about you call me brother-in-law?

How can I do that?

Your Highness is a man of authority and standing.

I can't forgo my manners.

Your Highness, Madam!

Your Highness, Madam, Censor Wei, the culprit behind the poisoning has been found.

Censor Wei, you're here.

Madam, I heard that the culprit has been found.

Xuefei.

I found this in the room of Hongye, who was responsible for brewing the medicine.

Please take a look at it.

Hongye, don't resent me.

You're just unlucky.

It's the smell of the Lost Soul Flower.

What's this white cloth for?

This is a poison-detecting cloth made by the palace's imperial physician.

It's been soaked in a special herbal brew.

Once the white cloth comes into contact with the Lost Soul Flower, it will turn red.

His Majesty gave me this cloth to test for poison before everyone

and prove that the heir's wife isn't lying.

The white cloth turned red.

This medicine is indeed the Lost Soul Flower.

Xuefei, bring Hongye here.

Yes, Madam.

What is Zhang Yuanqing up to this time?

Now that His Grace is confirmed to be poisoned with the Lost Soul Flower,

can he still be saved?

Thanks to Her Lady for expelling the poison using acupuncture,

His Grace managed to vomit out the poisoned blood in time.

His Grace's life is no longer in danger,

but recovery will take time and a period of recuperation is needed to regain consciousness.

Thank the Heavens.

Jingshu, I'm glad Censor Wei uncovered the truth.

I misjudged you.

Don't resent me.

I understand.

Your immense worry for Father frazzled your mind.

Don't be bothered by this.

Madam!

There's trouble!

Hongye has jumped into the well.

What?

Word of the culprit being found must've spread.

Hongye killed herself to escape punishment.

You didn't even believe that His Grace was poisoned.

Why did Censor Wei's arrival

spur you to suspect Hongye and search her room?

That's because

I know a secret.

What is it?

One day, I heard people quarreling when I passed by His Grace's room.

I walked over and saw-

What is it? Tell us.

I saw His Grace forcing himself onto Hongye.

No wonder His Grace's health worsened drastically after the new year.

So, it's because that darned brat poisoned him.