Original subtitles

Episode 24

Qian, your tea-making skills

have improved a lot lately.

As long as you like it, Father.

I heard that you sold all your shops.

They were yours. You had the freedom

to use them as you pleased.

But if you needed money urgently

you could have told me.

Has the placing of my brother's tablet

at the ancestral hall in our hometown

been arranged?

More or less.

Father, you said

you would take my mother and me

to go on a trip to relax.

Does it still count?

Yes, but let's wait a little while more.

Your brother's murderer

is yet to be apprehended.

I will only be at ease

when the case comes to an end.

Just leave the investigation

to Magistrate Wang.

It's his duty

so he's more adept at it than you are.

What's the matter?

You can't wait to leave, Qian?

Huangcheng is a boring place.

I don't want to stay any longer.

How about this?

Go out of the city for a tour with your mother.

I'll go find you a few days later.

But I prefer to go as a family

with both you and Mother.

Have you decided on where to go?

I want to go to a small town

in the south of the Yangtze River.

I heard it has plenty of bridges and streams

making it an ideal place for relaxation.

All right.

I'll spend a few days wrapping things up.

After that, I'll hand in my resignation.

Are you serious, Father?

Yes.

Father, I'll take my leave.

All right.

I forgot to ask him about Wu Shuomo.

Forget it. I'll ask him another time.

Hua Residence

Lord is occupied with official business today.

I'm afraid he can't make time now.

What about coming back another day, Miss Hua?

Since Lord Zhong is busy

I'll wait here till he's available.

Miss Hua, waiting here isn't a good idea.

Why don't you go home first?

I will go to your residence and inform you

once Lord is available.

I live in Hua Residence.

I feel bad having you

to deliver a message to me.

It won't hurt to wait a bit.

She went there again?

Yes, Miss.

It's strange. We seemed quite close a while ago.

But lately, she keeps declining my invitations.

Where's Qi Ruxin?

Why haven't I seen her these few days?

It is said that she was traumatised

at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet

so she is still resting in her room.

Let's go then.

I think I haven't visited

Her Highness in a while.

But there are people coming and going here.

If people see you standing here

that would be...

You went too far.

You knew I wouldn't allow people

to badmouth you

so you waited at my door and refused to leave.

Lord, you should keep a distance from me.

What, are you trying to push me away again?

Tell me.

What is the purpose of your visit today?

Didn't you reproach me for not coming?

But it seems you're still reproaching me

now that I'm here.

Would you say that you're here for me?

I came here today

to ask you for a favour, Lord.

Lord, please spare my guard.

In the end, he's still the reason you came.

In exchange

my father and I will wash our hands of

my brother Hua Shen's matter.

You have full control.

What do you mean?

You should know what I mean, Lord.

Your guard did harm first.

How can I let him go free

just because you said so?

Hua Rongzhou did wrong

but it is not necessary to kill him for it.

He suffered a lot when he was little.

It's understandable that

he found it hard to find a balance.

When he was little?

You believe whatever he says.

The rich merchant Master Li

killed countless children.

His family don't expect Hua Rongzhou

to repay the crime with his life.

Why must you force them to testify against him?

He was imprisoned for less than five days

and you have come to Zhong's Garden

to seek my help twice.

You said he was young.

Are you saying being young

gives you immunity from punishment?

Master Li might deserve death

but Qi Rongzhou took more than one life.

You mean

everyone should shoulder responsibility

for what they have done, right?

Meng Yifei sent someone to kill me

but my brother got killed instead.

If you value fairness and justice

as much as you claim

why did you hide this matter from me?

Why do some get to walk away free

when they've killed someone

while the rest have to repay the crime

with their lives?

How are your parents?

The Ge family

completely disregard the law.

The assassination was executed in public

and they did not show

the Zhong family any respect.

In a way, we brought upon your brother's death.

So, you also think that my brother was unlucky

and got killed due to the chaos?

It was my fault.

I caused your brother's death.

Do you know that

the assassins only targeted me

and Hua Shen died protecting me

from the sword attack?

I had no idea...

Yes. It was chaotic

at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

Everyone was frantically fleeing.

No one could notice anything else.

Even you, one of the masterminds

didn't know what exactly happened.

How would anyone else know?

The magistracy investigation

is constrained by red tape.

It's quicker to investigate on my own.

Besides, I'm the assassins' target

so I'm not going to let them off so easily.

Miss Hua, you are so brave and wise.

Are you making use of this

to strike a deal with me now?

So, you do already know this.

I discovered something

about the banquet assassination.

During the banquet

there wasn't anything unusual

about the private guards in Huangcheng.

It's just that...

Go on.

A few days before the banquet

Butler Meng in the South

and Butler Qi in the North

sent men back to deliver gifts respectively.

What's up with the Meng family?

Butler Meng had twenty-odd people

to escort his wife and daughter back to the city.

Meanwhile, they also delivered Mid-Autumn

Festival specialities and gifts he prepared.

And Second Master Meng received them.

It was not until the third day after the banquet

that these twenty-odd people left the city

and returned to the South.

According to the spies in the Meng family

half of them were strangers

and they were not those who delivered the gifts.

Can we trust what the spies' said?

If the spies weren't sure about it

they wouldn't report it to us.

Besides, it doesn't make sense

to stay for so long

after the delivery was made.

With all the recent events

their strange act alerted me.

It was nothing complicated.

What took you so long to find out?

The man who delivered gifts

from the Qi family was suspicious

so I spent much time

investigating the Qi family.

Finally, I found out that

that man and Miss Qi

were in a relationship.

He had nothing to do with the assassination.

I knew about that early on.

It was obvious Qi Ruxin was out of sorts.

I didn't expect that'd throw you off the trail.

Lord, please forgive me!

Did you look into the Meng family's guards

who delivered the gifts?

I'd already sent people to the South

to investigate it in secret.

Their investigation revealed that

those guards were killed by bandits

before they could reach the shops in the South.

It is said that after Butler Meng

learned about this

he even paid people

to eradicate those bandits.

However, the information came from the spies

and there were no eyewitnesses.

How dare they?

How dare they?

Many things

are not as simple as you think.

I'll make it simple.

Spare Hua Rongzhou's life

and I'll keep my mouth shut about Meng Yifei

for the rest of my life.

Is the guard that important to you?

That's not the point.

Not many people around me

treat me sincerely

so I cherish people who treat me well.

What about me?

Haven't you noticed how I treat you?

So what if I noticed?

I've made myself clear from the very beginning.

You are the lord of the Zhong family.

You bear heavy responsibility in producing

incense that promotes good health for people.

You'll always put business matters

before your relationship with a woman.

- I just... - You knew all along

that Meng Yifei was one of the masterminds

behind the banquet assassination

and you tried to stop me from seeing her

on several occasions.

You were afraid that I would find out, right?

The Meng family will pay the price.

I can assure you that.

But it's not the time yet.

I know why.

The Meng family holds the operating rights

of the shops in the South.

A forcible seizure of power

will only undermine the power of your family

and give others an opportunity

to take advantage.

I also know that you have your reasons

for keeping Meng Yifei and Qi Ruxin

in Zhong's Garden.

So, you can't do anything to them.

I also understand

that you can't do as you please

being in a position of authority.

But knowing...

doesn't mean I agree with your actions.

Qian...

Despite your status as Lord

you can't ensure fairness in all aspects.

Everyone has an axe to grind.

If you let Hua Rongzhou off

I'll persuade my father to resign

and we'll return to our hometown.

We will never pursue Meng Yifei's matter.

Are you going to leave?

I can't believe you are leaving.

Only I know about what Meng Yifei did.

If you don't trust me

you can shut me up completely

and let the rest go.

I've told you umpteen times.

I have never made assumptions about you

but you just won't believe me.

Fine.

If that is the case

I won't waste my time anymore.

But know this

I'm agreeable to everything you asked

except allowing you to take that guard with you

and live outside Huangcheng!

I definitely won't allow that!

What do you mean, Lord?

Agreement between Qian Ying and Mu Yunping

The proof of your father's crime

that you're holding is just a copy.

Do you think I really don't know

what your father did?

You're in charge of my jewellery.

Do you remember the white jade bracelet

that Her Highness gave me when I got married?

Yes, I do.

Help me look for it.

I will go to Zhong's Garden tomorrow.

There's something I should return.

Yes, Miss.

Yinxing is on your side.

Why does she seem like a changed person?

She probably became nicer

after she got what she wanted.

Is that so?

I guess we should look into it.

Pick a smart girl in Zhong Residence

and put her by her side.

Greetings, Mistress. I'm Yinxing.

You said I didn't trust you just now.

To think you have placed

a spy right next to me.

No wonder every time I go out

I would meet you on the streets.

I know

no matter how I defend myself

you won't trust me anymore.

But it's impossible that

you and Butler Hua can leave Huangcheng

without any concerns.

That's true.

You have complete control over us.

Framing a colleague is also a serious crime.

Why don't you grant me death?

Will that be enough to atone for my father's sin?

You know what I'm thinking

yet you said that to provoke me.

I know what you're thinking?

Zhong Xiwu.

No, I never know what you're thinking.

I'm not showing you this

to hold Butler Hua accountable.

What for then?

You said

you would stop pursuing Meng Yifei's matter

in exchange for your guard's safety.

I will allow that

provided you reveal the truth

about Butler Hua framing his colleague

if you want keep him safe.

Why me?

Haven't you already gathered the evidence?

You will know by then.

On the fifth day of next month

I will call for all the butlers in the city

to attend a banquet in Zhong's Garden.

If you make this known in front of them

I will spare your family.

Lord, you treat this like a game.

Whether to hide or reveal a wrongdoing

is entirely up to you.

Qian...

I'll hold you to it.

I'm going to pick up Hua Rongzhou now.

On the fifth day of next month

I will do what you asked me to.

As for Yinxing

please summon her back.

I shudder to think of the consequence

if I keep her.

Qian, believe it or not. Whatever I do

I do it to make you stay by my side.

Qian!

Let's go to the prison first.

Yes, Miss.

Go to the prison before going back

to Hua Residence.

Come take a look.

Buy one.

This basket is durable.

Come take a look.

What is this?

Jinhua Powder, a pain relief medicine.

I'm injured because of you

so you shall apply the medicine for me.

I can't reach my back.

Come with me.

Come out.

I'm here to pick you up.

What happened to you?

You don't look well.

I'm fine.

You're lying.

You're bad at lying.

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.

You are smart, aren't you?

Hua Rongzhou

why do you seem different from before?

How am I different?

Guard Hua, this is your sword.

I brought it here for you.

Miss, I have washed up.

Here are some money and food.

You don't have an indenture

so I prepared these things.

It's wrong to kill after all.

I did my best to save you

from punishment this time.

Find something else to do from now on.

Miss, you once said

you would not leave me to live alone

but now you are abandoning me?

Yes.

Just leave.

We've known each other for a while

so we shall part on good terms.

Don't make me drive you away.

No one in Hua Residence is my match.

So, if I insist on staying

no one can drive me away.

Say that again.

Are you saying you can defy my orders now?

You once said you would leave with me.

And at the prison entrance

you said you came to pick me up.

I believed every word you said.

Why are you going back on your word?

It is different now. I have...

What I did before was to protect myself.

I had never deliberately created trouble

or hurt anyone.

If you're upset about my past wrongdoings

I promise

I will never do such a thing again

unless you give an order.

If you don't believe me

I'll cripple my right hand

to show my determination.

Anyway, I learned martial arts

not to take revenge or bully the weak.

Now, I use it to protect you.

If you don't want me around

my martial arts skills are as good as useless.

You tricked me.

Miss, you once said if you left Huangcheng

you would only have me by your side.

So, don't find excuses to drive me away.

I don't want you to be alone.

As for me...

I only have you by my side all this time.

Look at you.

I can't trust you with important tasks, can I?

I will change for the better.

All right... I won't drive you away.

Thank you, Miss.

You may leave now.

Yes, Miss.

He's just as stubborn as I was

in my previous life.

Leaving would be best for him though.

Forget it. I'll think of another way.

Miss, did you see Yinxing?

I haven't seen her today.

I sent her away.

What did she do?

The same reason why I sent Cuizhu away.

It seems that we can't have trusted servants

in our compound.

Miss, rest assured.

I will never betray you.

That can't do.

Nanfeng might come here asking for you.

Why didn't you flee while you were blushing?

Miss, say whatever you want.

I'm already used to it.

There goes one more fun thing to do.

Find someone to deliver it to...

What are you waiting for? Hurry up.

- Don't drag your feet. - Miss, he...

Do it. Hurry up.

Go.

Go.

Grab a pot of Exquisite Dark Wine

and come with me.

Yes, Miss.

Grave of Hua Shen

This is Exquisite Dark Wine. Your favourite.

Do you smell it, Shen?

I can't hold my liquor

so let's drink it later.

Let me say what I came here to say first.

I'm sorry, Shen.

I'm here to apologise to you again.

I can't...

avenge your death

even though I know who the murderer is.

As expected, there's a traitor among you.

We have failed in our duties.

When our master returns

we'll offer up our lives as penance.

Let's table your punishment

until your master returns.

Hand over that traitor to me

so that I can get your master back.

We used some techniques

during the interrogation.

He couldn't withstand torture

and died.

Do you want your master back or not?

Please forgive me, Concubine Mu.

We must never...

hand over the traitor.

Why?

Our master planned the banquet abduction

for you.

It was supposed to be a clandestine plan.

We did it under the disguise of the Ge family

so no one suspected us.

Who would have thought someone would die?

If word got out that Junior Lord Wu attempted

to assassinate the son of Butler Hua

our master may be deemed as the culprit

of the bad blood between the two families

even though our master merely wanted

to abduct Hua Qian

and not assassinate anyone.

The murderer was someone else.

But no one cares about the details.

Our master was stubborn

and insisted on taking the risk.

We could only obey.

If we were caught, we'd kill ourselves

and not breathe a word.

But we had a traitor among us.

He was detrimental to our master's life.

No matter what, we couldn't hand him over

to testify.

So...

you can only tell me

who caused Hua Shen's death?

Exactly.

Do you think

Hua Qian will be satisfied with this answer?

Would you please send her a letter first?

If she's wise, she will understand.

But if Hua Qian insists on

not releasing our master

then we have no choice

but risk our lives to rescue him.

Miss, Mu Yao sent someone to deliver a letter.

Mu Yao wrote to me

saying that we all knew the truth

but we had to act like we were unaware

because there was no evidence.

We couldn't find evidence

because one murderer

was protecting another murderer.

The only person who could come forward

pretended not to know as well.

Shen, I couldn't do more.

It's an unfair world.

Connections override the law.

An eye for an eye

only applies to the lower echelons of society.

For some, killing someone

is as easy as killing an ant.

For some, seeking justice

is like swimming upstream.

Shen.

I'm sorry.

I couldn't risk my life

to drag Meng Yifei down.

I could only use

the hearsay information

to exchange for

the most favourable outcomes

for the Hua family.

Am I too evil?

After I was reborn

I thought as long as

I kept a distance from you all

I could avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Now it seems...

I was wrong.

This is...

the second time I was wrong.

Do you know something, Shen?

I saw you die in front of me twice.

Don't worry, Shen.

I will make things difficult

for that person.

I am...

an evil person to begin with.

Miss.

Miss.

Miss.

Shen.

Shen.

Bonus footage

You are smart, aren't you?

Be careful of your injuries.

Come on up.