Original subtitles

Uncle Mingyu.

-Here. -Come on. Slowly.

Careful.

There you go. Be careful now.

My lady, are we going to just leave like this?

What if we wait a bit longer? We'll knock on people's doors again.

That's right. Maybe we spoke poorly last night.

If we go again now,

perhaps some folks will help us.

Let's not trouble them anymore.

Let's go.

Halt!

Who's blocking the road ahead?

How dare you stop the Vice Minister of Justice's carriage!

What's going on?

Mr. Wei, it seems like the prison breakers are ahead.

WEI QIAN

I've heard rumors before. But I didn't believe them.

In broad daylight,

someone dared

to take a death-row prisoner.

Sir,

I'm the daughter of the Chief Secretariat, Jiang Li.

There's injustice in the corruption case

of Magistrate Xue Huaiyuan.

I want to take Magistrate Xue to the capital to seek justice.

The Jiang family will take responsibility for any consequences.

-Please let him go. -Arrest the death-row prisoner.

-Yes! -Sir.

Can you allow me to finish speaking?

I've been ordered to execute Xue Huaiyuan.

Today, in Huaixiang, I'll only speak to officials.

I advise you to step back

and not hinder me in the execution of my duties.

Since ancient times, people study to become officials

to serve the people.

Yet you said

you would only speak to the officials.

You sounded noble,

but you're actually belittling the people.

-How can those in Huaixiang seek justice? -How impetuous!

I admit I impetuously committed a crime for taking a death row prisoner.

But what about you, sir?

You don't investigate, refuse to listen to the truth,

and execute innocent people.

Is that not a crime?

I could have spared you

since you're young and naive, but harbor sincerity

for Chancellor Jiang's sake.

But you're arrogant.

How dare you openly reproach an imperial court official?

Enough is enough!

If there's another way to redress the injustice,

I don't need to do this

and put myself at your mercy.

I have no other choice.

The daughter of the Chief Secretariat and Grand Preceptor, Jiang Li,

broke Xue Huaiyuan out of jail.

The evidence is conclusive and irrefutable.

I request to be taken to the Court of Judicial Review.

I ask that the Court of Judicial Review

conduct a joint trial

for my breaking a prisoner out of jail and Xue Huaiyuan's corruption.

-Please hold a joint trial. -Please hold a joint trial.

Incredible.

You're willing to risk your lives to delay a death-row prisoner's death.

Is it worth it?

Yes.

I have no other choice.

I must take Xue Huaiyuan to the capital.

Even if I'm in chains,

I must seek justice for him.

This is an important matter and you can't change it.

Even if Chancellor Jiang is here,

he cannot ignore the nation's laws.

At this point,

I still advise you

to stop this

and not tarnish Chancellor Jiang's reputation.

Guards.

Take the death-row prisoner.

Sir.

Magistrate Xue is really innocent.

We were the officers who served under Magistrate Xue.

We can testify for him.

Our names are registered.

We're willing to testify for Magistrate Xue.

-We're willing to testify. -We're willing to testify.

Enough talk.

-Arrest him. -Yes!

Sir.

Get up.

-On your feet. -Get up now!

-Let go of me. -Don't move.

Xue Li.

Xue Li.

Escort the death-row prisoner Xue Huaiyuan to the execution ground.

-Yes. -Yes.

-Sir! -Stop!

-Magistrate Xue was framed! -Stop!

-Sir, someone framed him. -Stop!

-He is innocent! -Let him go!

-Sir, let him go! -Let Magistrate Xue go.

-Magistrate Xue is innocent! -Let him go!

-Let Magistrate Xue go! -Xue Li.

Let Magistrate Xue go!

I'm Zhang, a butcher in Huaixiang.

Zhang, I'm a cripple.

I can't walk this path of seeking justice.

Magistrate Xue did

so much good for us.

When you were bullied,

it was Magistrate Xue who helped you.

I've come to ask you

to lead the people

to speak up for Magistrate Xue.

We must have a conscience.

I'm sorry

for being a coward.

Cripple Liu came to see me yesterday

and his scolding woke me up.

I'm just a butcher.

I may not excel in anything else.

But I have steady hands and footing.

Today, I stand firm right here!

Without Magistrate Xue,

the people of Huaixiang wouldn't be who we are today.

I, Zhang Sheng, am stepping up today.

I have no family and I'm all alone anyway.

All I have are these two butcher knives!

With these knives, I speak up for Magistrate Xue

and the people of Huaixiang to demand justice!

You dare to obstruct me.

Arrest him too.

If you're arresting him, arrest me too.

Yes, arrest all of us.

Magistrate Xue, we've failed you.

In the past, Feng Yutang harmed us,

which made us really afraid,

so we stopped intervening.

But the heavens watch us all.

If we watch you die unjustly,

we will forever live with guilt.

What are you doing?

After we fled the famine,

we would have died

without Magistrate Xue's help.

I must save him.

Then earlier, why did you...

Stay at home.

I don't want you to die.

Magistrate Xue was framed.

Please judge fairly.

Fine.

I will arrest every single person who comes here today.

Arrest them.

Wait!

Arrest us too!

Yes, arrest us too.

-Arrest all of us! -Dai Yun.

I'm sorry.

I was too cowardly yesterday.

Mother, why aren't we saving Mr. Xue?

We're powerless.

But Mr. Xue helped you deal with those bad men

and bought candied haws for me.

If you're not going, I'll go.

Wait.

Ping'an, what if they take you away again

when you go to save Mr. Xue?

I'm not scared.

Mother, you shouldn't be scared either.

I live in Unit 15 of Qingshi Alley. My name is Dai Yun.

I can also testify

that Magistrate Xue didn't commit corruption.

It was his replacement, Feng Yutang,

who withheld food and mistreated the people.

You all

won't listen, right?

Today, I'll arrest all those who come.

Every one of you!

Don't forget me.

Mother, come.

I am Mo Wenxuan, living in Unit 3 of Qingshi Alley.

The corruption charge against Magistrate Xue is unjust.

I'm willing to write a petition and seek justice for him.

-Justice for him! -Justice for him!

-Yes, justice for Magistrate Xue! -Justice for Magistrate Xue!

-Justice for Magistrate Xue! -Justice for Magistrate Xue!

-Justice for Magistrate Xue! -Justice for Magistrate Xue!

-Justice for Magistrate Xue! -Justice for Magistrate Xue!

-Justice for Magistrate Xue! -Justice for Magistrate Xue!

You all won't listen, right?

Sir, we have lived in Huaixiang for generations.

Sir, we're willing to seek justice for Magistrate Xue.

Please allow Ms. Jiang Li to pass!

-Allow Ms. Jiang Li to pass! -Allow Ms. Jiang Li to pass!

Ms. Jiang Li, don't say I didn't warn you!

-If you can't overturn the case -Let her pass!

and the Court of Judicial Review meets with the Three Departments

and rejects it, you will also face death!

-Let's go! -Allow her to pass!

-Let her pass! -Let her pass!

-Let her pass! -Let her pass!

I really don't know what to say.

My lady, you don't need to say anything.

You've already done so much.

We can't just watch you send yourself

to the Court of Judicial Review.

You are a dignified and noble person.

We want you to remain clean,

innocent, safe, and sound.

Clean, innocent,

safe, and sound.

My lady, rest assured.

We will do anything

to reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict.

Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict!

-Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict! -Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict!

-Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict! -Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict!

My lord, aren't you going to see her off?

Since her task is done,

there's no need for me to go.

I have something to say.

Ms. Jiang Li

is this.

Do you want to get 11 canes?

I'm afraid it's not that easy.

Some people

won't let her easily take

the folks to the capital.

Then should we escort her all the way?

This is beyond what we can do alone.

Are there things that we can't solve alone?

Lu Ji, prepare paper and ink for me.

-I want to write two secret letters. -Yes.

YE RESIDENCE

The details of the Huaixiang incident are complex and lengthy.

Father must have heard and worried about it for a long time.

Please present this letter to my father

and tell him Uncle Mingyu is with me, keeping me safe.

Please do not worry.

Young Master, a secret letter from Huaixiang.

-Just leave it there for now. -Yes.

Twenty-three people from Huaixiang are

willing to seek justice for former Magistrate Xue Huaiyuan.

They're angry at the miscarriage of justice.

I couldn't just be an onlooker, so I joined them.

Everything is currently fine. Father, please don't worry.

Outrageous!

Since ancient times, trying to overturn a convicted official's verdict

is like accusing the authorities and challenging those in power.

How many times has this ended in a futile and bloody affair?

She has no idea how serious the situation is!

Chancellor Jiang,

I was worried when I heard the news in the capital too.

But fortunately, Uncle Mingyu is with Jiang Li.

Uncle Mingyu wrote to me,

praising her bravery and wisdom.

The people of Huaixiang are all cheering for her

and the Jiang family.

Vice Director Ye.

You're still young and perhaps unaware of the gravity of this situation.

Every cheer from the people

for the Jiang family

is like a slap to the Minister of Justice.

It's like getting my husband into trouble.

Li'er's actions are sure worrisome.

She didn't even inform her parents beforehand.

Dear,

don't waste time worrying about her.

This isn't the first time

she acted recklessly without regard to her parents.

She even dared to stop Ministry of Justice officials

and had the nerve to break a prisoner out of jail!

Just wait.

Scheming individuals in the capital

could easily frame the Jiang family for treason.

Then we should send a letter to Li'er now.

It's already too late. Her letter has arrived.

News has spread in the imperial court.

I'm afraid His Majesty will inquire about it soon.

Do you have a plan to deal with this?

-Ms. Sun. -Yes.

Send someone to bring Jiang Li back immediately.

Chancellor Jiang,

Jiang Li is leading the people to seek justice.

If you bring her back by force,

it might be hard to explain it to the people.

I'm heading south for the disaster relief work.

If you trust me,

please allow me

to reason and persuade her.

I believe I can persuade her to return.

Shijie, this is a serious matter.

You are cousins who are around the same age.

You must ask Jiang Li not to act rashly anymore!

Your words worry me, dear.

Can he persuade Li'er to return?

Will the Jiang family be in danger?

Let's wait and see.

I'd rather this girl

not return to the capital anytime soon.

If she does return,

there will be big trouble.

Shijie!

Why are you ignoring me?

I'm thinking about Jiang Li.

Shijie, take me with you.

If we work together, we can overcome anything.

Shijie, take this for the road.

If you're bored, go back to your little turtle.

I'm going for relief work. I have an official duty.

Don't cause trouble.

Shijie, taking me along won't hurt.

I can also give you a hand.

No.

Come on. Take me with you.

If you don't take me, I'm not letting you leave.

I don't have time to fool around. Get off now.

-No. -You're not getting off?

-No, I'm not. -Fine.

What are you doing? Are you playing games with me?

I just miss my cousin a lot.

How could you be so heartless?

Can you really stand

to see me cry every day?

Fine! Since you're so heartless, don't blame me for being the same.

Everyone, come and see!

Ye Shijie

is an ungrateful and heartless man.

He turns his back on me

and is ungrateful!

Jiang Jingrui, are you sick in the head?

Shijie, you finally realized I'm sick.

My illness has seeped deep into my bones.

It's incurable.

If you don't take me with you,

you will never see me again.

That would be wonderful.

Ye Shijie, you're so cruel!

You're so heartless, Ye Shijie.

You're heartless!

Yes, you!

Ye Shijie!

Pack up and get in the carriage.

I'll go and pack right now!

Let's go.

Wait! Aren't you going to wait for me?

Ye Shijie!

Your Majesty, this drought spans several counties.

It has a wide range

and has affected tens of thousands of people.

But rest assured.

The surrounding counties

have enough grain in their reserves.

The only issue is the lack of manpower to transport the grain.

I am urgently arranging people

to ensure the disaster does not lead to famine.

Minister Li, I trust your capabilities.

Two years ago, you managed the southwest floods effectively,

saving many lives

and easing much suffering.

You are indeed a pillar of the nation.

I entrust my people to you once again.

I will do my best, Your Majesty.

Minister Jiang,

do you have anything to say to me?

I am deeply worried.

My daughter broke a prisoner out in Huaixiang.

Her behavior is truly reckless.

I have failed to educate my daughter and I deserve to be punished.

Minister Li.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What's the punishment for breaking a prisoner out of jail?

Your Majesty,

according to the law, the punishment

is death by beheading.

Minister Jiang, I have reviewed the memorials reproaching you.

They contain plenty of harsh

and sharp words,

directly saying your crime is unpardonable.

They're so cruel. I can't bear to read them.

I am extremely concerned.

Chief Secretariat Jiang,

you're an important official the late emperor entrusted to me.

I cannot bring myself to punish you without understanding the situation.

I have decided to meet your daughter

-before making a decision. -Yes, Your Majesty.

PRINCESS WANNING'S MANSION

Do you know your mistake?

Do you know your mistake? Do you?

I'll beat you to death!

Her Highness entrusted you

with Huaixiang's affairs because she valued you.

But look at what you've done!

Do you think you've lived up to Her Highness' and my expectations?

Do you know your mistake? Do you?

Get up!

I'll beat you to death!

Chancellor, stop beating him.

This child is pitiful.

Your Highness, I'm also at fault in this matter.

Please punish me as well.

Chancellor, come in quickly.

Yes, Your Highness.

Kneel here and reflect on your actions.

Your Highness,

I'll leave his life in your hands.

You may decide how to deal with him.

Guards, quickly dress him up

and take him away.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Meixiang,

serve the tea.

Yes, Your Highness.

Chancellor, please take a seat.

I dare not.

I said sit.

Let me pour it.

I don't deserve it.

Chancellor, this tribute tea is of high quality.

It's fragrant, Your Highness.

Try it.

It's overflowing, Your Highness.

The gold mine in Huaixiang is gone.

If I were Prince Cheng, you would have been dead by now.

If it weren't for your years of loyal service to me,

I wouldn't protect you too.

But now, you've left me with this mess.

Chancellor, what am I supposed to do now?

Your Highness,

Jiang Li may still be alive,

but she committed a serious crime of breaking a prisoner out of jail.

I can use this to bring down the Jiang family.

It's like cutting off one of His Majesty's arms.

What if you can't bring them down?

If the truth about the gold mine comes out

when Jiang Li returns to the capital,

I won't be able to protect you either.

Then what do you...

Meixiang, the tea is already cold.

No, it's not.

It has not turned cold.

But His Majesty already brought this matter up

in the imperial court today.

It might not be wise to kill her now.

Chancellor, you must drink the tribute tea while it's hot.

Please rest assured, Your Highness.

I will personally take action this time.

Jiang Li will surely never return

and I'll make sure the Jiang family falls hard after that.

I guarantee it.

Don't.

Don't disappoint me again.

Has Shen Yurong come to see me these days?

Your Highness, he hasn't.

He can still maintain his composure.

Let's see how long it'll take for him to come.

Ms. Jiang Li

is truly astonishing,

bringing a magistrate she barely knows to petition to His Majesty.

Yes. I wonder...

-Mr. Shen. -Mr. Shen.

Prepare the carriage.

Yes.

Wait.

There's no need.

Here, enjoy.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Thank you very much.

-Chief. -Come on.

-Here. -Thank you for letting us rest here.

-You see, there are so many of us. -Here.

We don't ask for quality food.

As long as it can fill our stomachs,

we'll take them.

I'll pay double, all right?

It's not that I don't want to earn this money.

But we don't have enough to eat at all.

I don't know when the famine will end.

If I give you everything now, where will I find food later on?

Please. I'm begging you.

Please help us find a solution.

Then I'll ask the neighbors for you.

Here, have some water.

Jiang Li.

Get off the carriage and...

All right. It's all right.

-It's fine now. -What's...

It's all right now. There, there.

A civet with spots

Jumped over South Mountain

Following the North Star

She returned home to the border

Don't you think you're being

overly nice to Magistrate Xue?

Even if you're repaying a favor,

you don't have to be this protective.

When we get to the capital,

it might cause trouble

if the Jiang family sees this.

Uncle Mingyu,

you should know

that my father completely abandoned me at Zhennv Hall for ten years.

Magistrate Xue's daughter died trying to save me.

That's why I consider him my father.

I know you're someone who repays kindness.

But there's something

I need your advice on now.

What is it?

Ever since we entered Dingzhou,

every household along the way is facing food shortages.

I asked the village chief.

He said the famine is worse as we travel ahead.

Didn't the imperial court provide disaster relief?

Yes, but only enough for each person to have a bowl of watery porridge daily.

Is there another route?

We could detour through Liuzhou.

But the capital is in the north.

If we take a detour toward the west,

it'll take at least a month more to reach the capital.

They are eager for us to take a longer route

so they can carry out their plans in secret.

Let's stick to Dingzhou to avoid more trouble.

We're a large group, so provisions are a problem.

Let's split up.

My father and I trust all of you.

Today, I ask you all to remember this.

My identity now is Ms. Jiang Li.

If you address me wrongly in the capital,

not only will we fail to save my father,

it will also endanger our lives.

-All right. We'll remember that. -All right. We got it.

Please inform

other people from Huaixiang about my identity.

Gu Da, those of you who are skilled in martial arts

must take good care of everyone

and ensure their safety.

Please rest assured. Take care of yourself too.

Let's meet again after leaving Dingzhou.

Safe journey.

Take care.

Be careful.

-Let's prepare to head out too. -Careful.

Come on, slowly.

SOUTH GATE

Everyone, line up. No need to rush.

-Thank you. -Next.

DINGZHOU

Everyone will get some. No pushing.

Here you go.

-It's still hot. -Thank you.

-Move forward after getting food. -Here's yours, ma'am.

Thank you.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

-Thank you. -Here you go.

-Thank you. -Those at the back, please line up.

Hey, what are you doing?

-It's mine! -Don't grab it.

Uncle Mingyu,

let's go and buy some food for the journey ahead.

The price isn't a problem.

No matter what,

we must leave tomorrow morning.

All right.

Those at the back. Keep up.

Jiang Li!

Liu Xu?

Liu Xu,

what are you doing in Dingzhou at this time?

My father was ordered

to escort relief supplies to Dingzhou,

so I followed along.

I thought our mission would be over

once the provision was delivered.

But Dingzhou's famine is so severe.

The city's granaries are empty

and many disaster victims gather outside the city.

The local officials in Dingzhou are overwhelmed

and lack the manpower to distribute food,

so my father decided to stay

and help distribute the food in Dingzhou.

Is the situation really bad?

Yes, it's quite serious.

Earlier, they said a batch of supplies was on the way.

But it hasn't arrived yet.

Without food,

there might be unrest.

You have to be careful.

After all, people would do anything

to survive.

I expected this when I saw the disaster victims

on the way here,

so I told people from Huaixiang to take a detour.

There are only a few of us now.

We'll leave early tomorrow morning.

I thought we could catch up

this time.

But you're leaving again.

You don't know

how bored I was in the capital.

Aren't Ye Shijie and Jiang Jingrui in the capital?

Don't even mention Jiang Jingrui to me.

All he does is upset me.

I feel like giving him a piece of my mind whenever I see him.

Ye Shijie is a bookworm.

He's always busy with official matters.

I don't really get to see him.

He just started in the Ministry of Revenue after all.

Maybe he's not a bookworm.

He's just not interested in me.

Are you moving on?

I only like people who like me back.

As for those who aren't interested in me, I won't waste my time on them.

-Open the door! -Open up!

We want to see Ms. Jiang Li!

-Open up! -Ms. Jiang Li.

-My lady! -Mr. Ye, what should we do now?

-How did they know Jiang Li's here? -I have no idea.

Could the lady who found this place for us have told them?

Or maybe the villagers leaked it out.

Impossible.

Mr. Ye,

why don't I ask Ms. Jiang Li to come

and calm them down?

No, Jiang Li can't appear right now.

I'll meet them.

Open the door.

Ms. Jiang Li.

Someone is coming.

Everyone, let's go and see Ms. Jiang Li.

What a crowd.

Are you trying to rob us?

No. We dare not, sir.

We just want

to see Ms. Jiang Li.

Who told you she's here?

I heard about it.

From whom?

I really heard it

from the beggars.

They said she is ready to uphold justice

and petition to His Majesty for the magistrate,

so she can definitely help us.

All of us agreed to come and see her.

We want to ask Ms. Jiang Li

to help us get some food.

-That's right. -Please help us, Ms. Jiang Li.

-Ms. Jiang Li! -Ms. Jiang Li!

Shut up!

You've been tricked. Get it?

Leave.

We don't have food either.

Ms. Jiang Li!

Sir, please have mercy on us

and give us some food.

My child is only a year old.

I don't have to eat.

But please save my child.

Please. I can go without food.

Please help my child.

Please. I beg you.

Please help my child.

Give us some food.

Please.

-Go and get some steamed buns. -Yes.

Sir, please help the children.

Get up.

Sir, please.

Please. I beg you.

Please, sir.

We don't have much food either.

We can only share some with the children.

Those able-bodied adults

should leave now.

Otherwise,

don't blame me for being rude.

-Thank you, sir. -Thank you, Ms. Jiang Li.

-Thank you. -Thank you, sir.

Jiang Li, what are you doing?

Uncle Mingyu, did you give the disaster victim food?

I gave the children some steamed buns

and chased away the rest.

You shouldn't have given them food.

I know we're running out of food.

I did leave some for us.

Besides,

I can eat less during the journey.

That was not what I meant.

No matter how much food we have,

you shouldn't give it to others.

The moment we give them food,

we can't control the crowd later.

The disaster victims have been hungry for a long time.

Once they catch on and come again as a group,

we won't be able to leave.

Don't worry. I'm here.

Anyone causing trouble won't get away with it.

What if it's the whole city's disaster victims?

How will you handle them alone?

I...

Before the news spread,

we must leave now.

I'll have Liu Xu help us to leave the city.

If the people asking for food today are from Huaixiang,

will you still be indifferent?

Uncle Mingyu, what do you mean?

I thought you were kindhearted

and took the risk to save the people of Huaixiang out of gratitude.

But now, it seems it's not the case.

Your attitude changed

when it comes to people from another city.

We have our priorities.

What we must do now is to hurry back to the capital.

We can't let the people of Huaixiang who departed early wait in vain.

Never mind. You've always been decisive.

Let's do what you say.

Tong'er.

Time to go.

Let them pass.

Jiang Li,

be careful once you leave here.

If there's an emergency, write to me immediately.

Take care. I'll see you in the capital.

You should go now.

Uncle Mingyu, let's go.

All right.

DINGZHOU

Is that Ms. Jiang Li's carriage?

-Yes. -It's Ms. Jiang Li's carriage.

-Ms. Jiang Li! -Ms. Jiang Li!

Drat.

-Ms. Jiang Li! -We're in trouble.

Ms. Jiang Li!

It's Ms. Jiang Li's carriage!

It's Ms. Jiang Li's carriage!

What do you want?

What do you want?

Get up!

Listen to me.

There's no Ms. Jiang Li here.

I don't even know who Ms. Jiang Li is.

You're lying! Ms. Jiang Li is inside.

Yes, there must be food in the carriage!

-Let's go and get it! There's food inside! -What are you doing?

Back off!

-Tong'er. -What are you doing?

Ms. Jiang!

-There's food inside! -Move!

If you come up, I won't play nice anymore!

-It's going to topple! -Get off!

Uncle Mingyu, are you all right?

It's Ms. Jiang Li! It's her!

Get out of the way!

I dare you to get close again!

Everyone, don't believe him.

We can't die from hunger.

There must be food in the carriage.

Let's go and get it.

Go and take it!

It's better than starving to death.

What are you waiting for? Go!

We're giving out food!

Everyone, look! We're giving out food!

Where?

Tasty jumbo steamed buns!

Jumbo steamed buns!

Come quickly!

There's filling inside!

-Where? -Steamed buns.

-Come and see. -What now?

Tasty jumbo steamed buns!

These have fillings!

Really?

-It's really steamed buns. -They're delicious!

Come and get some before they're gone.

-Steamed buns! -There are really steamed buns!

-Jumbo steamed buns! -Give me some!

They'll run out if you're late. Come quickly!

-He's giving out food! -I want steamed buns!

I want steamed buns!

-There's enough for everyone. -I want one.

-Don't grab them. -All right, here you go.

Uncle Mingyu, are you all right?

-Shijie. -Jiang Li, go now.

We'll cover you.

Thank you.

-It's nothing. -Be careful along the way.

My steamed bun!

Give it to me!

-No! -You old fool!

-You two... -Stop it.

-Go away! -Be careful.

-Stop. -Why did Magistrate Xue come down?

-Don't! -Magistrate Xue.

Stop it.

-Be careful. -No.

Slow...

Slow down.

Go away!

-I want steamed buns. -Careful.

-No, don't! -Magistrate Xue!

We have to leave now.

-No. -No, you can't go there. Let's go.

-Stop. -Come on, go back.

Let's go.

No.

Don't leave.

Don't leave.

Are there any more?

-Give it to me! -It's mine!

-It's mine. -Give it to me!

It's mine!

Father,

aren't you tired of reading all these petitions?

Do you want to take some rest first?

Do you know the relationship between people and officials?

People are the foundation of officials.

That's what the texts say.

Then tell me what it is.

To me, the people

are just like you are to me.

I like what the people like.

I hate what the people hate.

This is what it means to be the father to the people.

As an official,

all the people are my children.

Stop it!

-It's mine. -Take more.

Don't!

We're out of steamed buns.

-We're out of steamed buns. -It's too late, Jiang Li.

The food is almost gone. Go. Or you won't be able to leave.

That's right.

No.

Then we'll stay.

You're not leaving?

-But... -Return to the city.

-Don't take mine! -Give it to me!

Don't take it! It's mine!

Father, even when you're not clear-minded,

you still care about the people.

How could they harm someone like you?

I won't let them get away with this.

Jiang Li,

I shouldn't have given the people food.

I almost put you in danger.

It's not your fault.

What happened today seemed orchestrated.

If they were really ordinary people,

how could they know our whereabouts so clearly?

Someone might have instigated them

to stop me from leaving Dingzhou.

I found out

there are many small paths leading out of Dingzhou.

We can go through the forest.

I don't plan to leave anymore.

What do you plan to do?

Uncle Mingyu, you were right.

They're all people.

Why differentiate between those from Huaixiang and Dingzhou?

My lady.

Vice Director Ye and the others are here.

We're lucky to have you today.

What are you two doing in Dingzhou?

Li Zhongnan is here for disaster relief

and His Majesty ordered me to assist him.

Jiang Li,

Chancellor Jiang was furious after receiving your letter.

He was going to drag you back.

But when he heard you were passing through Dingzhou,

he let me come to check on you.

When Father found out about this,

he was fuming, right?

It's good to let Uncle Yuanbai know.

With so many disaster victims and so many mouths to feed,

if you don't ask for his help, how will you solve it?

Right?

What can we do?

Li Zhongnan is in charge of disaster relief

and the food is in his hands.

Even if Father wants to help,

he can't bypass Li Zhongnan.

Otherwise, he'd be accused

of hindering the relief efforts.

Then all the more reason for you to leave.

It's too late to leave now.

My whereabouts have been exposed.

With the disaster in Dingzhou unresolved

and the people outside the city gathering,

I can't leave with Magistrate Xue.

Jiang Li, Luyang isn't far from here.

What if I go to the Ye family and think of a way?

The Ye family just suffered a major setback

and hasn't recovered yet.

Besides, gathering food and transporting it here

in such a short time

is nearly impossible.

The Ye family has been in business for decades,

so we're quite capable.

Don't worry. I'll head back now.

Be careful.

-I'll get going. -Thank you.

If the Ye family can't help,

it will be a dead end.

Even if it's a dead end, we need to know the reason.

We already know someone is behind this,

so we at least need to find out

who the person behind this is.

With Ms. Jiang Li in Dingzhou,

all the disaster victims are heading there.

Dingzhou's situation is critical now.

Minister Li,

do you have any solutions?

The drought has affected a wide area,

spanning several cities.

Right now, the disaster victims have all gone to Dingzhou.

The relief plan I made before

is no longer applicable.

After the imperial court meeting,

I will discuss with Chancellor Jiang

and quickly report a solution to you, Your Majesty.

Make haste.

Every day of delay means more suffering for the people.

-Yes. -Yes.

Chancellor Li.

Chancellor Li.

What are you doing?

We've both been doing this job for most of our lives.

A food distribution plan

is already in place.

It just needs to be adjusted to fit the current situation.

Must you drag this on?

I'm not as anxious as you are, of course.

After all, it's your daughter

who caused the trouble.

That's not right.

The relief efforts in Dingzhou are your responsibility.

If people starve to death in Dingzhou,

aren't you afraid His Majesty will hold you accountable?

Of course I am.

I used to be afraid.

But now, Ms. Jiang Li is there.

She brought the disaster there.

If His Majesty wants to punish someone,

he'll start with the Jiang family.

What does it have to do with me?

So you don't care if people die.

That's not true.

There's actually a batch of grain in Yunxiang,

not far from Dingzhou.

But the mountain roads are treacherous.

It's not easy to transport

the grain from there.

Just be frank.

If Ms. Jiang Li wants to return to the capital alone,

it'll be easy.

But if she wants to take someone else back,

it will be a long and bumpy road.

So many people gathering on the road makes it congested.

Transporting the grain will be difficult too.

Are you saying

that unless she stops taking the people to petition to His Majesty,

you won't solve the famine problem?

I never said that.

It depends on how you interpret it, Chancellor Jiang.

But the longer this drags on,

the more disaster victims will gather in Dingzhou

and the greater the danger.

I suggest you go back

and talk some sense into your daughter.

It's said Ms. Jiang Li didn't even flinch.

She stood up and said,

"Justice is evident and should prevail.

Is there no place for justice?

If these grievances can't be addressed in Huaixiang

and Luyang can't help,

then follow me, folks.

Even if the path ahead is filled with danger,

I will take you to the capital

to petition to His Majesty!"

Nice!

Your Highness...

Well said.

-Reward him. -Reward him.

Chancellor Li.

Yes, Your Highness.

You've mastered

the art of using rumors.

You sure know how to exploit the common folks' love for drama.

Thank you for your praise.

I'm simply giving them a taste of their own medicine.

Doesn't Jiang Li love to use her name

to spread her cause?

This time, I'll let her use it to her heart's content.

Those whom the gods wish to destroy,

they first make mad.