Original subtitles

♪The moon sinks, ripples dance, violet stars awaken♪

♪As time dissolves without a trace♪

♪Frosted memories scatter, silk cannot veil the past♪

♪Fate is drifting in silence♪

♪Let winds and sands accompany the road ahead♪

♪Looking back, joys and sorrows linger, no regrets remain♪

♪Breaking free from the depths of darkness♪

♪Like pearls of tears, we swirl with fate's embrace♪

[Based on the novel The Story of Pearl Girl by Tan Tianyin]

[The Story of Pearl Girl]

[Episode 16]

Get to work.

Master Shijiu.

Survival is paramount.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Go over there. Go.

Pick it up.

Hurry.

What are you doing?

Go.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Chase them.

Did the agents follow us

when we were brought in?

Yes.

Save them first.

They were witnesses

to the Black Dragon Bandits' crimes.

Okay.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Murder.

Supervisor Kang.

Duanwu!

Come with me. There's no more time.

Come with me!

Go.

Go.

Go!

Go!

There's no more time.

I'm not leaving.

We can't leave.

Even if we get out of here,

they'll behead us.

Duanwu, come on.

Go. Ask them to leave!

There's no more time. Go.

Listen to me. Go!

Come on. Let's go.

Tan, come on.

Go!

Guys.

This is the family head's token of the Cui family.

I'm Cui Shijiu, the legitimate daughter of the Cui family.

The Wuling Mine belongs to my family.

Master Eight is guilty of great crimes.

My family won't let him go.

I promise

I'll let you go

when we get out of the mine.

And I won't hold you accountable.

Go!

The Cui family head's token...

[Cui]

We're saved.

- Let's go! - Let's go!

Go.

- Go. - Go.

Go. Keep up.

Hurry. Keep up.

Hurry.

Hurry.

I'll take them away.

Hurry.

Hurry!

- Come with me. - Go.

Go.

Hurry.

Don't let her get away.

This way.

This way!

Hurry!

Yan Zijing.

Duanwu!

Don't come over. The water is toxic.

The agents followed me when I was brought here.

They'll be here in a minute.

I can keep it up.

Duanwu!

The water is toxic.

Don't come over, Duanwu!

I'm coming.

I'm coming.

I'm coming.

Come on.

Are you all right?

You are being foolish.

Let's go.

Go.

Be careful.

Be careful.

It's okay. Let's go.

Are you okay?

How are you doing, Duanwu?

Duanwu.

Let's go.

It's you again.

Good for you.

What?

Did you get into the water, too?

In that case,

I'll give you a ride.

Yan Zijing.

Duanwu.

Chancellor Zhang.

The Bafang Tower

has always been law-abiding...

Governor Sun, you avoided me all night last night

to stop me from coming here, right?

Whether the Bafang Tower is law-abiding

or not,

we will find out when we go in.

[Bafang Tower]

Open the door for Chancellor Zhang.

Open the door.

I'm Zhang Jinran, a chancellor of the Institute of Literary Studies.

Mr. Zhang, Governor Sun.

What are you doing here

with so many soldiers?

We came to you for a trading convoy.

Trading convoy?

What do you mean?

I've never heard of it.

I'll ask you again.

Where is the Yan's Trading Convoy now?

Governor Sun.

He came to my Bafang Tower to make trouble.

What are you going to do with him?

Um...

I

give away porridge and medicine and fight bandits in Wuling.

I'm a good person.

You're a scholar-official.

What right do you have

to pick on me?

What did you say?

I'm the governor of Wuling.

Mr. Zhang, I'll report back to you

when I've looked into it, okay?

If you'd looked into it,

Wuling wouldn't be like this.

I'm telling you.

If you mess with me,

Wuling will be in chaos.

Can you afford the consequences?

Wuling belongs to Tang.

Who are you?

You...

Stop.

Calm down.

Give me the antidote.

Here. Take it.

Can you walk?

Help her.

Help her.

Let's get out of here.

You should have thought of today

when you betrayed the Cui family.

It's my mercy

just to kill you.

Master Eight.

What do you want to say?

The man in blue

is Chancellor Zhang from Chang'an.

You can go to him to seek justice.

They robbed and killed merchants,

imprisoned the innocent,

forced good girls to become prostitutes,

and used lynching to kill people.

No.

They are my slaves.

They signed contracts to sell themselves.

They sold themselves to me.

- No. - That's not true.

Nonsense.

We are merchants of the Cuiyu House.

I'm a worker at the Cuiyu House.

We were captured by the Black Dragon Bandits in Western Regions.

They took our money and delivered us here.

Duanwu.

You go back first.

The witnesses are here.

As for physical evidence,

I think they are all over the Bafang Tower.

The murderer will be beheaded.

The looters will be hanged.

Besides, you colluded with the Black Dragon Bandits.

You're doubly guilty.

Governor Sun.

Governor Sun.

We caught him red-handed with robbed goods.

Come on.

Arrest him for interrogation.

Wait.

Governor Sun, I'm innocent.

The head of the Cui family

did all this.

I was ordered.

Cui Shijiu.

You can't get away with this.

Nonsense.

How dare you slander the head?

The Cui family didn't know

you did all this.

It's all your fault.

To cover up your crimes,

you sent me to the mine and became a miner.

Everybody knows that.

That's right.

She's the Cui family's legitimate daughter.

She was sent to the mine.

She took out the Cui family head's token

and set us free.

Punish Master Eight severely.

Punish Master Eight severely.

That's right.

The Wuling Mine belongs to the Cui family.

I didn't expect it

to become Master Eight's prison.

He's unforgivable.

Fortunately, I banished him from the Cui family

with the family head's token

and set everyone free.

We're willing to cooperate with you

to find all the evidence of Master Eight's crimes.

Cui Shijiu.

You're just a dirty billet.

Enough. Take him away.

- Go. - Go.

Cui Jingchu, you're evil.

The Cui family is doomed.

You're all evil.

Governor Sun.

Won't you go back to try the case?

Yes.

I'll the case as soon as I get back.

Let's go.

Are you going with me?

I'm a witness. I have to go.

Let's go.

Chancellor Zhang, thank you for saving our lives.

Chancellor Zhang, thank you for saving our lives.

Sir, get up.

Get up.

It's our job

to get rid of bad people

and let the people live a safe life.

You're free.

Live well

in the future.

Thank you, Chancellor Zhang.

Thank you, Chancellor Zhang.

[Taohua Inn]

You're awake.

Be careful.

Are you feeling better?

Yes.

Be careful. It's hot.

Are you all right?

Great.

You want to ask me

what was going on,

right?

Did you plan this?

Yes

and no.

I knew

that the Black Dragon Bandits robbed money and sold people.

But I didn't know where they sold people.

Mr. Yue told me

that Master Eight

introduced the Black Dragon Bandits to the Cui family.

I thought

there must be something wrong

with Master Eight

and the Bafang Tower.

Then what?

When we arrived in Wuling,

I discovered

that the mine was secretive.

So, I thought

that the people sold by the Black Dragon Bandits

had something to do with Master Eight

and that they were most likely

hidden in the Wuling Mine by Master Eight.

Master Eight took the Bafang Tower seriously.

I thought the Bafang Tower was the key.

So, I asked Kang Ju to look into it.

He investigated for a long time

but could not find the entrance to the mine.

You asked Supervisor Kang

to transfer the jewelry.

I wanted to take advantage

of Master Eight's greed

to lure him to attack Cui's Jewelry

and me.

You put yourself at risk.

Yes.

You lured Master Eight to take you away

so you could find the mine entrance

and rescue all miners.

What's wrong?

If you had made

one wrong move

in your plan,

you would have died.

I've always been a man with nothing.

All these years,

I got this far

because I took risks.

I'm blessed.

But I didn't expect one thing to happen.

I didn't expect you

to come back to save me.

Do you think

I will leave you alone?

♪People are like dust...♪

Yan Zijing.

♪A sad relationship...♪

I know you were alone before.

You didn't care about yourself.

But I want to tell you.

I hope you don't put yourself in danger again.

You're not alone.

I'm there for you.

I'll always be there for you.

Promise me.

♪If only we're worthy of our encounter...♪

Okay.

I promise you.

♪For the rest of my life, I won't be afraid of obstacles♪

♪I hope we've been through all the hard times♪

♪Although life is short, it's beautiful♪

♪We have a bright future♪

♪I've been through a lot♪

I will protect you.

I mean it.

♪If no one understands me♪

Okay.

♪For the rest of my life, I won't be afraid of obstacles♪

♪I hope we've been through all the hard times♪

♪Although life is short, it's beautiful♪

♪We have a bright future♪

The door is open.

What is it?

Mr. Zhang is here.

Okay.

I'll ask him to wait.

I'll go.

I'll go.

You're old enough

to think about your marriage.

Supervisor Kang.

Mr. Zhang.

Master Yan, how are you?

Don't worry. I'm all right.

Mr. Zhang, what do you want to see me about?

The Wuling miners said

they were taken from the Piti Spring.

Have you ever been there?

I think I've been there.

16 years ago, Kang paid a national tribute,

which was a Lotus Terrace Apsaras statue.

It was robbed there.

Yan family of Yangzhou volunteered

to escort the national tribute.

But they were involved.

Their family was ruined.

And they became court criminals.

Mr. Zhang, what are you trying to say?

From Hepu to Guangzhou,

from Shaozhou to Wuling,

you used me as a pawn and got me involved.

You should

let me know the truth.

Don't you already know the truth?

The Yan's national tribute case was suspicious.

I want to look into it.

It's been so many years.

Is it necessary to find out the truth?

I don't care how many years have passed.

I want to find out the truth.

Master Yan, don't worry.

I

will investigate this case

with justice.

Mr. Zhang, I thank you

for those who died unjustly.

There's one more thing.

Master Yan,

would you help me?

How?

Hexi Black Dragon Bandits has been raging for many years.

They robbed countless people.

I want to request troops to eliminate the Black Dragon Bandits.

The Black Dragon Bandits disappeared for a while.

They've been rampant in recent years.

The government couldn't deal with the desert.

That's why they became a bully in Hexi.

Many people died on the business road.

If you want to do this,

I'm afraid you will encounter a lot of difficulties.

Pei Shijie, the inspector of Hexi, is my friend.

I'm sure

he will help us.

Okay.

I'll work with you

on this.

May we

succeed

in our common goal.

You're doing much better than before.

Come on.

Watch your hands.

Mr. Zhang.

Duanwu.

He...

He's taking a rest.

Ms. Yue,

aren't your hands all right?

In my friend Pei Shijie's army,

there's a military physician

who's good at treating hands.

Maybe you can go to him.

Really?

I'm going to the Hexi Army.

If you trust me,

I can take Ms. Yue

to see the military physician.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Zhang.

Thank you, Mr. Zhang.

Not at all.

Are you also going to the Western Regions?

Yes.

I know the truth.

I can't let it go.

Mr. Zhang.

Would you like to play with us?

Okay, wait for me.

Okay.

Mr. Zhang.

Thank you.

Duanwu.

Could you give me an orange?

Catch it.

It's sweet.

Cao Da, eat one.

Sit down, everybody.

Come here, Shrimp.

Come on. Sit down.

In Wuling,

our trading convoy encountered a disaster.

Thank you for not leaving.

I've been in business for years.

I have always acted freely.

I have enemies everywhere.

So, sometimes, I don't do things

according to common sense.

This

will happen a lot

in the future.

I'm going to Hexi next.

If you have scruples

or want to do something else,

you can leave.

I won't force you to stay.

I prepared

a year's salary

for those who want to leave

as compensation.

So much money.

I'll follow you, Master.

Take it.

Take it.

The trading convoy

has a tough road ahead.

Take the money.

Go home and start a small business.

Listen to me.

I'll follow you, leader.

I, Cao Da, am absolutely loyal

to the trading convoy.

I'm willing to give my all till...

Till...

Till your heart ceases to beat.

I'm not leaving.

Yes.

Don't beat me.

I'm not leaving either.

Master, we're not leaving.

- Yeah, we're not leaving. - We're not leaving.

We're not leaving.

I was surprised

when everyone said

they wouldn't leave.

Yeah.

I didn't expect them

to be willing to go on an adventure with me.

That's because you're nice.

They didn't want to leave because you treated them well.

I'll have

to treat them better.

Come on.

Eat something.

Let me ask you something.

You said you were poisoned by the Black Dragon Bandits.

How's it going?

I'm all right.

Really?

Don't worry. I'm Yan Zijing.

The poison can't hurt me.

- I'm worried... - I'm all right. Don't worry.

Let's eat.

Don't worry.

Taste this.

You're erudite and informed.

You're proficient in poetry, calligraphy, and painting.

I thought you were a scholar.

But on your trip

to the South Sea,

you found out the truth about pearl diving

and sympathized with the pearl divers.

In your letter of expostulation, I found your love for the people.

Now, there's an opening for a secretariat drafter.

I hope you will return to Chang'an soon.

I look forward to your return.

Prince Ying values you.

Are you going to write him back?

I need to write him back.

But...

About the secretariat drafter,

I'll put it off.

I haven't thought about it yet.

It's a good thing.

What are your concerns?

Besides,

Prince Ying kept the position for you.

It's not appropriate for you to refuse him.

I have no credit.

I can't hold such an important position.

I'll look into the old case

and wipe out the Black Dragon Bandits first.

Then, I won't fail his trust.

Prepare the ink.

You're doing this for Duanwu.

Dear brother,

I'm going to Hexi...

Yunxiu.

I'll take Shrimp to you

as soon as I finish the important thing.

We'll find you.

Wait for me.

Do you remember?

[Peach blossom and running water] I told you

that we would open a shop.

You'll carve jade. I'll sell them.

Remember?

Yes.

Can we have our own shop,

Duanwu?

Duanwu, are we going to open a shop?

You have a good ear.

It's great.

Duanwu.

What do we

name our shop?

Name our shop?

May my heart be as bright as the moon.

So I can see through people.

Is it good?

Let's name it

Clear Mind, okay?

Clear Mind.

How about it?

Okay.

Duanwu.

Let's go to Yangzhou then.

Why?

Yangzhou is prosperous. There are many jewelry shops.

We can make a difference.

[Cui]

[Yan]

[Bianzhou]

It's delicious. Have some.

No, thanks.

Stop eating.

Shrimp.

There's a flowerpot there.

Let's see who gets there first.

This is the starting line.

Three, two...

Wait.

Excuse me.

Wait. This line...

Three, two, one, start.

I got there first.

I'm the first.

Call Duanwu.

Duanwu.

Duanwu!

- Come here. These flowers are beautiful. - Duanwu, come here.

Duanwu.

Coming.

Mine looks better.

Can you keep up with her?

Could you be positive?

She's shy.

This one looks better.

Are you also shy?

- This one is beautiful. - I'm not shy.

- I should consider her feelings. - What kind of flower is this?

Look at that.

I've never seen this flower.

What kind of flower is this? It's so big.

Miss.

It's a peony.

As a line of poetry goes,

Peonies are the most beautiful flowers;

when the peonies bloom, people from all over the capital will go to watch them.

Duanwu, we haven't been to the capital yet.

We'll go there sooner or later.

Yes.

We'll get a chance to go together.

She said she would go to the capital.

- Duanwu, look at this flower. - I'll keep that in mind.

It looks beautiful.

The purple flowers are beautiful, too.

What?

What's wrong?

Shrimp. Look at this flower.

Duanwu.

The Master is acting weird.

He's staring at you all the time.

Look at him.

Look at his eyes.

I've been watching him for a long time.

Is he...?

Shrimp, here's the thing.

Is he trying to kill you?

Why would you say that?

Is he trying to kill you again?

What have you done lately?

Does he look like he wants to kill me?

I don't think so.

What do you think?

Let me see.

He wants to kill you?

Don't look at him. It's dangerous.

Accountant Wei, what has Duanwu done lately?

She hasn't done anything wrong.

You're also acting weird.

What's wrong with me?

Duanwu.

Come here. This flower is beautiful.

It would

look great on you.

Come here. I'll put it on for you.

Wait. Accountant Wei.

Why did you take it off?

It's okay.

We have to pay for it.

Never mind.

I can't put it on for you.

Who knows how to wear this?

I'll do it.

What does it have to do with you?

Put it back.

I've taken it down.

I'll put it on for you.

Do you know how to put it on?

Of course.

Really?

Yes.

You can try.

Are you done?

So soon.

It's beautiful.

Probably because the flower is beautiful.

The flower is beautiful.

Well...

I think I smelled

Cao Da's chicken feet.

Did you smell it?

Yes.

It smells good.

Where is he?

- Why didn't I smell it? - Let me see what he's eating.

Okay.

Good job. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Let's go together.

Go.

Duanwu.

Nice.

Good for you.

Take notes.

Come on. That's all for your dishes.

Are you leaving?

Take care.

This is our specialty wine,

Museles.

I know this wine.

It's a nice grape wine.

It's great.

Smell it.

It smells like grapes.

Let's toast

to our arrival in Bianzhou.

A cup of Muse...

Museles.

Museles.

Let's make a toast.

Cheers.

Cheers.

You only eat bones.

Can I have a bone?

Don't use your hands.

That's all for your dishes.

Thank you, Kang.

What are you looking at?

Let me toast you.

It's delicious.

- I'm looking at the owner. - Save some for me.

This is a big restaurant.

There are three floors here.

Shrimp, this is your favorite.

- It's good for a woman to own such a restaurant. - Okay.

Cao Da.

Give it to me.

What's good about it?

Isn't it good?

A woman does what she wants.

Cao Da.

And she's doing it well.

I envy her.

Shrimp, eat more.

You can do it, too.

Cao Da, you eat more.

Me?

I just want to be a peddler.

Being a boss...

How about this?

You'll be the boss.

And I will rely on you.

What?

You'll be the boss. I'll rely on you.

You rely on me?

I'll be the boss?

You rely on me?

I rely on you.

You rely on me?

Yes.

You rely on me?

Yes.

We were just talking about my itchiness.

Leader.

Have you and the Master...?

Is it that obvious?

You're strong.

Well.

In that case,

I won't hide it from you.

I wish you happiness.

I wish you all the best.

I wish...

Duanwu and her boyfriend...

Boyfriend?

I wish you a bright future,

a happy life,

every success,

good fortune,

and all the best.

Good.

I wish you a long life together.

Good.

I hope you

raise your cups and get what you want,

clink your cups and make a lot of money,

and drink it up and live a rich life.

Come on.

You'll get rich.

We'll get rich.

- Come on. - Come on.

Master Yan, I have a request.

I want Duanwu to be happy forever.

Don't bully her.

Don't worry. I can do that.

But,

she's bullying me.

Duanwu, don't bully him.

- Wait. Who are you defending? - Yeah.

Don't bully me.

Duanwu.

Supervisor Kang.

I haven't seen Zijing this happy

in a long time.

I sincerely wish you

happiness forever.

I'll take good care of him.

Here's to you.

Thank you, Supervisor Kang.

Don't be sentimental.

Don't be sentimental.

- Come on. - Cheers.

Cheers.

♪Life flows like a boat, navigating joys and woes♪

♪Longing for distant shores♪

♪Aware this moment may tear my heart apart♪

♪Better to roam alone♪

♪Many depart, none return♪

♪How can we resist gazing at each other amid the blooms?♪

♪Your face glows like lanterns in the night♪

♪Love fades on the stone bridge, yet bonds remain♪

♪How can we endure the binds of longing?♪

♪Like a grand dream, a lone cup of wine♪

♪May this world hold♪

♪Both sorrow and warmth♪

♪To hide a broken heart away with laughter and tears♪

♪A debt across time awaits♪

♪A simple tale unfolds♪

♪Nothing compares to soft rice and sweet tea♪

♪May this fate intertwine♪

♪Half in regret, half in longing♪

♪Radiant memories tint your gaze♪

♪The world's bitterness♪

♪Still accompanies my dreams♪

♪Drifting afar on the shore of your life♪

♪Quietly watching over you♪