Original subtitles

Madam Ji.

What happened? Where's Li'er?

Ms. Jiang Li is

entertaining Huaixiang's folks at Ye Residence.

She said she's not coming back.

Well…

Why don't I go invite her myself?

There's no need.

Li'er brought those people here.

Although they're common folks,

they've met with His Majesty after all.

She should be around on such an important occasion.

Old Madam.

This is the welcome banquet

especially prepared for Li'er.

Shuran, I don't think it's a problem.

She's all grown up.

She won't grow if she doesn't venture out into the world.

I think Li'er is just as ambitious

as my brother.

Indeed.

If it wasn't for her persistence,

she wouldn't be successful in petitioning to His Majesty.

Indeed.

Dear, let's eat.

We haven't had such a sumptuous meal for a long time.

Come on.

Let's eat.

Here, Mr. Liu.

-All together. -Together.

-All right. -Uncle Mingyu.

It's delicious indeed.

-Here. -It's good liquor.

Do you want this?

-Here, a toast to you. -All right.

-Here. -Here.

-Cheers. -All right.

-What a joyful day. -Have a drink.

-Is it delicious? -Yes.

-Come. Mr. Liu, here's to you again. -All right.

Ms. Jiang Li.

You are…

His lordship is inviting you over.

Go ahead and eat. I'll be back soon.

Not bad.

Is only one skewer done?

The Ye family is wealthy, yet they didn't give you enough food?

Have you given me time to eat?

Isn't it the same to eat here?

You're fuming.

I'm not in the mood to joke with you.

Why did you ask me to come then?

Are you mad?

Are you mad at me

for not inviting you to the celebration dinner?

What do you think?

You're Duke Su.

Ye Shijie wouldn't imagine

having the honor of inviting you.

Is that what I want to talk to you about?

Let me ask you.

Who should you thank the most for this petition to His Majesty?

It's surely you.

You're so calm

when you tell a lie.

I'm thanking you sincerely.

Be it rescuing the officers at the mine,

assisting the disaster victims in Dingzhou,

helping me find the girl from Zhennv Hall

to confront the Eldest Princess,

or setting me straight

at the grave in Qingcheng Mountain,

all of this couldn't have gone smoothly

without you.

Thank you for your help.

Do you know

where Ms. Situ is?

We had a fight and she left.

How could you have a fight with her and make her leave?

You never come here without asking for a favor, don't you?

I was wondering why you'd leave those people behind for me.

It turns out you have another intention.

I'm really thankful to you.

But Magistrate Xue is very sick.

The imperial physicians couldn't help,

so I thought of Ms. Situ.

This wine tastes awful.

See our visitor out.

Ms. Jiang Li, this way, please.

When you find out

Ms. Situ's whereabouts,

please let me know.

I'll definitely remember your kindness.

You look quite handsome too when you're angry.

Father.

You used to tell me

that a person needs to be upright

to be a gentleman,

make friends, travel everywhere,

and achieve great things.

If one has evil thoughts,

he'll be despised by everyone.

But why did this happen to you?

Why do good people never get rewarded?

Xue Li.

Father, I'm here.

Father.

Those who harmed us

are still living happily.

I'm very close to them now.

Very, very close.

Justice

will surely be on our side.

Shijie?

Why are you here?

It's nothing.

I just want to ask

why Duke Su wanted to see you.

It's just trivial things.

How could it be trivial?

What trivialities can the Duke Mansion have with you?

Shijie.

Like I said, it's just trivial things.

Jiang Li.

I know you have a mind of your own

and don't like to be told what to do.

But I still want to ask you this.

Did Duke Su give you a hard time?

I've never seen him associate with anyone in the imperial court.

He's so close to you. Did he oppress you with his power?

No.

Duke Su helped me.

I know what to do.

All right.

That's good.

Please take care of Magistrate Xue during this time.

I'll come by when I have time.

Don't worry. I'm around.

Jiang Li is sure winning people's hearts.

Everyone here is siding with her.

There's no place for my opinion.

Madam Ji, don't worry too much.

As long as she's in the Jiang family,

we'll find a way to deal with her.

She used to be unknown and unwelcome.

No one backed her up, so it wasn't hard to deal with her.

But right now,

she stands out from all the noble ladies in the city.

She's even protected by the Ye family.

After returning from Luyang, she even succeeded in petitioning to His Majesty.

She has risen to fame.

Even I have to be cautious with her.

If we don't chase her out of the Jiang family soon,

we won't have the chance anymore.

What should we do?

When we find an opportunity, we must hit the bull's eye.

By the way,

there's a letter from the Princess's Mansion.

Why would the Eldest Princess write to my husband?

This letter is for you.

TO MADAM JI IN JIANG RESIDENCE

PRINCESS WANNING'S MANSION

Your Highness, I wonder

why you invited me here today.

Mrs. Jiang.

Do you think this Jiang Li is the real one?

She is since Old Madam and my husband said so.

It seems like you acknowledge that she's your daughter.

So I have to settle the score with you,

the matron of the Jiang family,

for getting me grounded.

If our daughter was wrong,

it's of course our fault as parents.

But Jiang Li didn't grow up with me

and isn't my biological daughter,

so it's hard to discipline her.

If you want to blame me,

please also be considerate of me.

It must be hard

to be a stepmother.

Do you need my help?

She's the daughter of the Jiang family after all.

If she's not taught well,

the family will share her honor and disgrace

in the future.

I would be very grateful

for your advice.

There was once a ghost in the palace.

Some people in the palace were possessed and died tragically.

Everyone panicked.

Later on, the Imperial Diviner was asked to remove the impurities

and it was found that a consort was possessed by an evil spirit.

His Majesty sentenced her to death

to calm the chaos in the palace.

Do you think Jiang Li

is also possessed by an evil spirit?

After listening to what you said,

I also think it's odd.

It's not just me.

Even the elders at home

think Jiang Li became another person

after returning from Zhennv Hall.

When I think about it now,

it's just as you said.

Forget other matters.

Since Jiang Li came back,

the daughter of the second concubine's son,

who was a smart girl,

is now behaving like she lost her mind.

I understand your grievance.

Your family can't stay restless.

I told the Imperial Diviner what happened in the Jiang family.

He likes helping people

and is willing to perform exorcism for Jiang family.

But having an exorcism at home is a big matter.

Chancellor Jiang and Old Madam Jiang

need to agree on this.

Telling them the pros and cons

shouldn't be hard for you, right?

It's for your family's sake after all.

Thank you for your advice, Your Highness.

Have a cup of tea.

Imperial Diviner,

it's your turn now.

TO THE IMPERIAL DIVINER

I'm willing to serve Her Highness.

We shall wait for your good news then.

Let's take action.

-Yes. -Yes.

-Heaven's will is defied. -Heaven's will is defied.

-Severe punishments will ensue. -Severe punishments will ensue.

-Heaven's will is defied. -Heaven's will is defied.

-Severe punishments will ensue. -Severe punishments will ensue.

When did this happen?

It happened last night.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

People who passed by here witnessed the whole process.

They said the scene was very creepy.

Other than these three, are there any other casualties?

-No, only the three of them. -Heaven's will must have been defied.

-Finish this up well. -Yes.

This may be related to the grounding of the Eldest Princess.

It's said that His Majesty is wary of Prince Cheng,

so he found an excuse to put his twin sister,

-Princess Wanning, in captivity. -This matter…

Prince Cheng is stabilizing the border in the north and fighting enemies.

His sister should be treated well.

That's right. This isn't a policy of benevolence indeed.

My lord.

The coroner already took the corpses back.

More time is needed to determine what exactly happened.

Someone must have done it deliberately.

Find out the truth soon to stop the rumors.

Yes.

Someone is feeling restless.

It seems like something big will happen in the capital.

Should I send a message to Ms. Jiang Li

to tell her to go out less?

Let's go.

Do you think his lordship wants me

to do it or not?

If he didn't want you to go,

he would've asked you to get caned.

That's right.

I bet

he's still angry with Ms. Jiang Li.

Even when he thinks about her,

he doesn't want to say it out loud.

Miss, have some stew.

Miss, Duke Su sent a letter saying

it hasn't been peaceful recently.

He wants you not to go out often.

It's no wonder that they're restless

after the imperial court meeting.

But fortunately,

his lordship and Old Madam Jiang

are on your side now.

When you didn't come back for the welcome banquet,

Ji Shuran wanted to use it to attack and debase you.

I didn't expect that his lordship and Old Madam

would put in good a word for you.

At the main hall,

Eldest Princess wanted Chancellor Jiang to open the coffin and examine the body.

He refused and shielded me from her sword.

For now,

I don't think he would investigate my identity.

But he's already starting to doubt

my identity.

To Ji Shuran,

this is the best time for her to deal with me.

But even the Eldest Princess can't do anything to us,

so we don't need to fear them.

The Eldest Princess has made a killing move against me.

Although we survived that,

she surely won't give up.

Despite being grounded now,

I'm afraid she'll still find a way to kill me.

Tong'er,

we can say

that we're surrounded now.

Are you afraid?

Miss, I'm not afraid. I'm not scared anymore.

I think we're fortunate enough

to have come this far.

Not only am I not afraid, but I also feel excited.

Even if we can't make it to the end,

I would like to move forward more.

Seeing more bad people get punished,

I think it's worth it.

We'll surely make it to the end.

IMPERIAL DIVINER OFFICE

Madam Ji, is this the place?

IMPERIAL DIVINER OFFICE

Pick me up after two hours.

Yes.

VISITOR CARD

Please wait here.

The Imperial Diviner will meet you.

It has been so long.

Why isn't the Imperial Diviner here yet?

Hit him.

No!

Stop it!

Father.

Father.

Stop hitting him!

No!

Father.

Father.

Stop hitting him!

Stop it!

Mrs. Jiang, you've come.

I came to see you upon the Eldest Princess's instruction.

I noticed that you're interested in that painting.

Not really.

But this painting

is very similar to a painting

of a previous painter of mine.

Are you still in contact with that painter?

He passed away in an accident.

Was it an accident or was it intentionally done?

What do you mean?

LIU WENCAI

You…

You're Liu Wencai.

That's impossible.

It can't be.

You thought that fire

could make me disappear from this world?

Wencai.

You're still painting me.

I can only paint with my left hand now.

How was your life

in the past few years?

I used up all my savings

to open a little shop in my hometown.

I painted and sold my paintings.

I thought my fellow villagers

would care for me.

I didn't expect them to bully me even more

when they saw that I was disabled.

When someone wanted to tear your painting,

I struggled to defend it.

I hit him out of anger

and I was sued.

I couldn't stay in my hometown anymore,

so I could only bring my paintings and come to see you in the capital.

Since you know that I'm Mrs. Jiang now,

you shouldn't have come to see me.

I thought you wouldn't come.

But you did.

Shuran.

You want to kill me?

You shouldn't have come to see me.

I don't owe you anything anymore.

Shuran.

Shuran.

Shuran!

Shuran!

Shuran, come back!

Ji Shuran, come back!

Ji Shuran!

Let go of me.

Look at me.

Look at me!

I tried so hard to protect my face

with my hands in that fire.

I thought

if I could luckily survive,

I needed to make sure you could recognize me.

But it's all right.

If you hadn't intended to kill me then,

I wouldn't have had this opportunity now.

You went to see the Eldest Princess

and told her there were evil spirits in the Jiang family.

You want to get your revenge on me.

If I wanted to get my revenge on you,

I wouldn't have waited until today.

It has been so many years.

Why do you only appear now?

Your life had gone so smoothly before.

Even if I found you,

I couldn't have made you do anything for me.

But right now…

you finally need to beg me.

I can get rid of Jiang Li for you.

It all depends on you.

Madam Ji, you're back.

Madam Ji.

What happened to you?

I'm fine. I would like to be alone.

Take a break first.

Madam Ji.

I'm fine. Leave first.

Leave!

Leave now.

JIANG RESIDENCE

My lady.

JIANG RESIDENCE

JIANG RESIDENCE

Didn't Mr. Zhou come?

-No. -It serves her right.

Her husband didn't come back to visit his mother-in-law with her.

Does she think she's favored?

Has he sent anything over recently?

Mr. Zhou did send things over for a while.

But Ms. Sun intercepted them.

Since you didn't give any replies,

he stopped sending things over.

Yes.

Ms. Yu'e is funny.

So what if she's back?

What is there to brag about?

Madam Ji.

Is Zhou Yanbang still sending things to Ruoyao?

Yes.

I'm on guard.

Have Mr. Qi propose marriage as soon as possible.

If Ruoyao continues to be entangled with Zhou Yanbang,

something bad will happen sooner or later.

Madam Ji.

You look terrible.

-I'm fine. -Let me get you a physician.

There's no need. I'm all right.

-Our daughter is promising. -Put it there.

-She brought so many things. -You're rarely back

-and you bring so much stuff. -Put them here.

Open them.

Put them on the side.

Aren't these gifts

your dowry?

It must have been a mistake.

I got many presents from the Zhou family.

Keep them first.

I'll bring them home next time.

Yu'e, is the Zhou family really treating you well?

Did they mistreat you?

Don't worry, Mother. I'm well.

It's all because my rank is too low

and I'm an illegitimate son.

I've dragged you down.

If your in-laws gave you attitude,

you should…

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Let me see it.

Let me see.

What happened?

It's nothing. I fell.

This isn't an injury from a fall.

Mother, lower your voice.

Did Zhou Yanbang hit you?

Dear.

I'm going back to my parents' house tomorrow.

Can you--

Shut up!

I said I don't want to see you.

Jiang Li.

Jiang Li is back?

Yes.

Jiang Li is back.

Jiang Li is back.

What does it have to do with you?

Isn't Jiang Ruoyao enough?

Are you still thinking about Jiang Li?

Go away!

If you didn't get onto my bed that night,

Jiang Li and I wouldn't end up like this!

You bitch.

How decent do you think Jiang Li is?

Jiang Li personally gave me

the note you gave her.

Do you think she likes you? Dream on.

That's just your wishful thinking.

What do you mean?

What exactly happened?

Make it clear to me!

She planned for me to see you.

I didn't tell you because she's my sister.

She has no interest in you at all.

That's why she pushed me to you.

Nice one, Jiang Li.

As long as I bear his child

and give birth to a boy,

I'll become the matron of the Zhou family.

Everything will be fine by then.

My lady.

Mr. Zhou isn't treating Jiang Yu'e well.

Those presents weren't from the Zhou family.

It was the dowry of Jiang Yu'e.

I knew it.

He would never fall for Jiang Yu'e.

Mr. Zhou seemed to have mentioned Ms. Jiang Li too.

Jiang Yu'e also said that in the palace banquet,

-Mr. Zhou wanted to invite Ms. Jiang Li-- -Impossible.

He must still love me.

Madam Ji.

You may go.

Yes.

Yao'er.

I've already arranged your marriage

with the Qi family.

Let's meet him together.

Mr. Qi is handsome.

You two would get along well.

I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?

I heard you.

Do you know

how many families I inquired for you?

You just canceled an engagement and have a bad reputation.

It wasn't easy to find you another good partner.

The Qi family has a high status.

That child also conducts himself well with people.

You should be more attentive.

Get changed.

I'm tired today. Let's do it another day.

What's with you recently?

You don't dress well.

You also haven't been eating well.

You look like you're half dead.

I really can't go today.

I'm very tired.

If not today, then we'll go in a few days.

You have to go anyway.

Does it matter if I go?

Isn't this set in stone already?

What is this?

Mother. What are you doing, Mother?

Mother.

Mother.

Eternity may come to an end.

But this hatred will never end.

You're still in touch with Zhou Yanbang behind my back.

This is none of your business.

-Ms. Sun. -Yes.

Bring over the newly-made clothes for Ruoyao.

You must go to see Mr. Qi

the day after tomorrow.

Mother.

Mother.

If you don't listen to me this time,

I won't consider you as my daughter anymore.

Jiang Li.

Yu'e.

It has been a while.

I was in a rush.

I haven't had time to thank you yet.

You don't need to thank me.

I didn't do anything that deserves your gratitude.

Of course you did.

Without you,

I wouldn't be able to marry into the Zhou family.

In the future,

if I become the matron of the Zhou family,

I'll definitely come back to thank you properly.

I'm back!

Yu'e.

She's ignoring me.

Little Ruirui.

I'm back.

Let me tell you.

The disaster in Dingzhou is over.

Liu Xu and her father are finalizing things.

We'll be worshiping our ancestors, so I came back.

I heard about it.

What you did was thrilling.

It was such a shame that I wasn't around

when this happened.

If you really wanted to witness it, you wouldn't have gone to Dingzhou.

What are you talking about? Of course I wanted to.

You probably came back suddenly

because you made Liu Xu mad

and were told to leave.

What are you talking about? How is that possible?

-Am I that kind of person? Impossible. -You're that kind of person.

Did Liu Xu write to you?

Tell me.

Jiang Jingrui, don't you know men and women should keep their distance?

Tell me.

No.

-No way. -Come on!

-Tell me. Hurry. -I won't.

Why can't I

even choose who to love?

My lady.

A letter from Mr. Zhou.

Why would he…

Today at 9 p.m.,

meet me at the back alley.

My lady, don't be reckless.

Madam Ji wants to set you up with Mr. Qi.

If she finds out…

Besides,

Mr. Zhou hasn't written to you for a while.

He suddenly reached out to you.

And he didn't come to visit you

but asked you out instead.

You don't get it. He has always loved me.

My lady.

TO JIANG RUOYAO

Did you touch the item in my box?

No.

Has anyone been here today?

Ms. Sun came to bring you these new clothes.

She said Madam Ji especially tailor-made them

for your meeting with the Qi family in two days.

She told you to keep them well.

She also wants you to carefully think about the meeting

and pull yourself together.

It was Mother.

She took my hairpin.

My lady.

You think this would make me stop thinking about him and give up?

Dream on.

Madam Jiang, I just saw Mr. Zhou go out to see Jiang Ruoyao.

Madam Jiang.

If this gets out of hand, it won't be good for anyone.

Besides, Mr. Zhou says

that he's sleeping in the study.

I got it. Leave.

It's time for me to sleep too.

Yes.

Yao'er.

Dear.

I made an appointment with Ruixiang Store's tailor

to make you clothes.

Or

should I get the tailor here

to save you the trouble?

I told the kitchen to make this especially for you.

Here. Have another one.

Am I a pig? You're feeding me so much.

Dear, where are you going?

Don't bother me.

I know that you went out last night.

What did you say?

Why don't I ask you

what you're up to?

I'm your wife.

Why did you have to see Jiang Ruoyao?

Isn't it good to live peacefully with me?

How dare you follow me?

I'm warning you.

Don't you tell anyone about last night.

Otherwise, I won't forgive you.

Dear.

Are you really learning medicine

to treat Magistrate Xue?

It won't hurt to learn medicine.

By the way, let me tell you something.

Jiang Ruoyao went on a blind date today.

She went there and came back with a long face.

It seems she has upset the Qi family too.

Ji Shuran went into her courtyard earlier and she's still there after so many hours.

She must be scolding her.

I didn't expect Jiang Ruoyao to also be so…

Stupid.

What did you say?

It's normal to be blinded by love.

It's stupid when the person is not worth it.

But Jiang Ruoyao is quite pitiful.

Judging from Ji Shuran's personality,

even if it doesn't work out with the Qi family,

there will be

other families to come.

If she doesn't know how to resist her,

she can't blame anyone.

Do you think everyone is like you?

Acting recklessly.

But that's good too.

When they're busy,

they don't have time to bother you.

The coroner has finished the examination.

Nothing unusual is found.

They haven't found out the will-o'-the-wisp's cause.

It's written in Records of Diverse Matters

that when there is death from war,

the accumulated human and horse blood turns into phosphorus over time.

Phosphorus on the ground is like dew from plants.

It's almost invisible.

When someone touches it,

his body will illuminate.

Rotting wood and corpses

may spontaneously combust

and produce a phenomenon like will-o'-the-wisp.

The so-called supernatural

is just people playing tricks.

I see.

The will-o'-the-wisp was man-made.

Those who were burned to death must have acted by order of someone.

Otherwise, they wouldn't say those things.

Investigate the whereabouts of the deceased before they died.

Find common ground.

Yes.

The will-o'-the-wisp is just a trigger.

The real show is yet to come.