Original subtitles

♪The spring breeze blows through the world♪

♪Blowing across the willow bank and the peach blossoms are brilliant♪

♪The legend spreads♪

♪There is always an amazing heartbeat♪

♪Who picks up the pen and writes that it's not too late to meet♪

♪Looking back to see someone smiling happily♪

♪Adding a touch of intensity to the depth of love♪

♪Being with you in the world of mortals♪

♪Whether it is a hustle or plain life♪

♪There will be no regrets in my life♪

♪See you in the next hundred years♪

♪Don't forget the current youth♪

♪I wish to stay and live up to the passing years♪

♪Every morning and every night we are together♪

♪It turned out we've known each other since the beginning♪

♪A thought at a certain moment♪

♪He sent me a thousand words♪

♪She left a story♪

♪The sound of guqin is like water and the shadow of the light is like a dream♪

♪Everything is tactful♪

♪Looking at the scenery and mountains with you♪

♪The rest of my life will last in perfection♪

♪Wait until the spring breeze blows♪

♪That's when I know your deepest love, and I'll miss♪

(Imperial College)

=A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College=

=Episode 27=

(Muyan Pavilion) Qi,

what are you...

I'm making pastries for my father.

So he can have freshly made pastries

when he comes back later.

In that case,

I should do my part too.

Let me help you.

Do you know how to make pastries?

I don't,

but I can learn.

Young Lady,

I'll check on the stove in the kitchen.

Wash your hands first.

I'll let you knead the dough.

Kneading the dough is the hardest part.

All right.

I saw someone do it before.

I think this is how I should do it.

That's not right.

I'll show you.

Watch closely.

Fold the dough backward and push it forward.

Repeat the same process.

Knead until you reach the end and flip it over.

Then...

Like this?

Right?

Deputy Chief,

don't you think this is indecent?

Not at all.

I hope our days will be like this

in the future.

As a couple, doing things together

and getting along happily.

Won't that be nice?

But...

Qi,

I'll figure something out about the marriage bestowal.

Today,

let's wait for your father's return happily.

Don't let anything upset you.

I think I'm getting the hang of it.

No, you don't.

You have to knead it like this.

Master Sang!

Deputy Chief, you're here too.

Yan Yan, what brings you here?

How are your parents?

The case is closed.

They've already returned home.

Why aren't you keeping them company at home?

My father said

Grand Commandant was framed for speaking up

for the Yan family.

He wanted to visit personally.

But he was not well, so he asked me to come.

Where's Grand Commandant?

Later,

Yan San Lang will send him back.

I'll leave after he has returned.

My father especially instructed me

to thank him in person.

Just now, you two were...

Just now,

I was teaching Deputy Chief how to make pastries.

Making pastries is a bit complicated,

so I had to teach him by hand.

Yes, exactly.

It turns out you want to please Grand Commandant Sang too.

Doesn't that mean

I should be doing something as well?

Where's Lian Pian?

In the kitchen.

I'll help out in the kitchen.

I'll head to the kitchen.

You can continue.

Please continue.

Smell this.

It smells delicious.

Qi Lang!

Grand Commandant Sang!

Father!

Father.

Father,

look at you.

You've lost weight.

I don't think so.

Your beard has grown white

and your belly is already flat.

Stop it.

Official Yan told me

that you had been busy with my case

during these times

and you even sought justice for Yu.

Thank you.

Grand Commandant Sang, please don't say that.

It's the least I could do.

I'm overwhelmed by your praise.

What are you doing?

Why did you hit him?

I wasn't just being nice and polite.

I appreciate his effort from the bottom of my heart.

Allow me to thank you for your gratitude, Grand Commandant Sang.

It's exhausting speaking to you people.

I'm going to rest in my room.

Drink with me later.

Sure.

Official Yan, join us.

I want to thank you too.

I still have official duty to attend to.

I'll visit some other day.

I'll send Official Yan off.

Go on.

Come here.

Let me see.

Father!

(Grand Commandant's Residence)

San Lang.

(Grand Commandant's Residence)

Qi was around,

so it wasn't convenient to bring it up.

Do you mean Zhuo Wen Yuan?

What happened to Xizhao and Qian Jiu

shows that this man is meticulous and vicious.

He'll never let this matter rest.

There will be another storm.

I'll continue with the investigation.

I think the same too.

I will keep an eye on him

and investigate secretly.

Only you and I know of this matter.

We must never let Qi find out about this.

Let me know if you have any clues.

I'll join you in your operation.

All right.

I'll make the preparations now.

Qi Lang, I'll be leaving then.

Today is a family feast.

There are no outsiders here.

No need to restrain yourself.

When I was not around,

it must be hard on you all.

Congratulations

on your safe return, Grand Commandant Sang.

Here's to you.

What kind of liquor is this?

It's so bitter.

It's the liquor Master brought back from the frontier fortress.

We couldn't bring ourselves to drink it.

Why?

Can't you get accustomed to having Sang family's liquor?

Yes. I can get accustomed to it.

I can get used to this.

Grand Commandant Sang,

I'd like to toast to you again.

Here.

All right.

Let's start eating.

Here, eat this.

Have this too.

Eat more.

Look how skinny you've gotten.

Sit.

The extermination of Xizhao

put an end to one thing that bothered me.

Even if the Prefecture Court hadn't made their move,

I'd have to get rid of them sooner or later.

But I heard

that Prefecture Court wants to dig deeper into Xizhao's case.

Aunt, rest assured.

I've already taken care of it.

They have no evidence,

so they won't be able to dig up anything.

You're getting more and more reliable now.

By the way,

I heard His Majesty had released Sang Wei

and reinstated his position.

How are you going to deal with this?

Aunt, don't worry.

The show must go on.

(Imperial College)

(Appoint People by Abilities)

From today on,

Deputy Chief, Manager Sang,

and I

are preparing to recruit students.

The students of the last cohort achieved outstanding results.

The response was good.

In Bianjing, many youths of the age to start studying

want to study at the Imperial College.

I've sent the new enrollment regulations prepared by the Deputy Chief

to the Ministry of Personnel for review.

I'm sure

we'll have a reply soon.

From now on,

Imperial College will accept students

regardless of their status, backgrounds

and gender.

As long as they want to study,

anyone can enroll in the Imperial College.

That's right.

There will also be a female class.

The curriculum will be the same as other classes',

and there will be regular assessments too.

The results of the assessment

will be published together with the other students.

This method

can also

encourage students to study.

Deputy Chief.

Deputy Chief, Scholar Feng,

the official from the Ministry of Personnel has arrived.

That was quick.

Is it that the new regulations have been approved?

Wen Yuan,

are you here to give us the good news?

You don't come to visit me at all.

Scholar Huo,

I'm on official duty.

We'll reminisce some other day.

All right.

After discussion, the Ministry of Personnel found the new regulations of the Imperial College

to be inappropriate.

The enrollment of students

should be based on quality instead of numbers.

There are many talented young people

among the sons of officials in Bianjing.

It's unnecessary to recruit so many students.

As for the admission of female students,

it's even more unruly.

In short,

the new regulations are whimsical.

I hope all of you here will draft a new one.

Zhuo Wen Yuan,

you're doing this to spite me.

I'm only responsible for relaying the ministry's decision.

If there's any objection,

you're welcome to appeal to the Ministry of Personnel.

That's all.

It looks like

it's hard to get approval

from the Ministry of Personnel.

We need to think it over.

What now?

Zhuo Wen Yuan is unbelievable.

He starts dictating once he has power.

He's clearly doing this to make things difficult for us.

Now isn't the time to be upset because of him.

What we have to do is to draw up

more convincing new regulations as soon as possible

so the rest of the officials of the ministry can change their minds.

You're right.

Even if Zhuo Wen Yuan's doing great at the Ministry of Personnel,

but he can't control everything, right?

As the saying goes, enough sincerity can move mountains.

I don't believe I won't be able to convince

those officials at the Ministry of Personnel.

Qi,

go back to the archive first.

Let me find a way to deal with this.

Don't overwork yourself, then.

I won't.

Qi Lang.

San Lang, did you find anything?

I received a tip-off

that Zhuo Wen Yuan

will be meeting an important person outside the city tonight.

To keep the operation a secret,

I'll only take a few trusted people with me tonight.

I hope

we can find his weakness this time.

Zhuo Wen Yuan is cunning.

In case of any accidents,

I'll go along with you tonight.

All right.

(Grand Hall)

Deputy Chief,

why didn't you have lunch?

Qi.

I had my lunch already.

Bai Shi sent it to me.

When did you get into the habit of eating alone?

I was worried all the time that you skipped a meal.

All right.

I'll buy you lunch tomorrow

to make up for you.

Really?

I'll choose the restaurant, then.

Okay.

By the way,

we have to hurry with the new regulations.

I need you to sort out the ancient records of the achievements

of the students of humble backgrounds and female students this afternoon.

With these ancient records,

I'll do my best to convince the Ministry of Personnel.

Do I have to copy the ancient records?

Time is pressing.

It's best if you submit it to me tomorrow morning.

I never expected that I would still need to copy ancient records

after I became a manager.

But don't worry.

For you,

I'll submit it to you tomorrow morning.

I'll be counting on you, Manager Sang.

I'll get going if there's nothing else.

Go.

Qi!

What is it?

For tonight's family dinner,

my parents will definitely rush me about the bestowal marriage.

It's annoying.

Why don't...

Why don't you hide at my residence?

My father has been in poor health lately.

I should not upset him.

Then, talk with them nicely

and don't argue with them.

Okay.

I'll get back to work, then.

All right.

San Lang,

are you sure of this information?

I believe so.

Didn't you speculate

that there was another mastermind behind Xizhao?

My informant

told me clearly

that he has important evidence regarding the mastermind.

Is this informant trustworthy?

He may not be a decent person.

Just a ruffian.

But

he's really well-informed.

He helped me out a lot in the past.

Halt.

San Lang,

this could be a trap.

I was suspicious of Sang Yu's death.

I've been investigating this matter for years

and received much help from the Prefecture Court.

I can proudly say that in Bianjing,

no one knows Xizhao better than I do.

But even so, I was only guessing

that there was someone else behind Xizhao.

But your informant

was too certain about it.

I fear...

Who's there?

San Lang!

Watch out!

Copying the records really exhausted me.

Young Lady,

you just finished investigating the case,

and you're busy with matters at the Imperial College already.

Can't you rest for a few days?

You're not invincible, you know?

You should rest after you've finished eating.

I'm so tired!

Anything good for supper?

Yan Yan,

what are you doing here

instead of going home for dinner?

By the way,

didn't you say

you'd accompany your parents?

My mother said Lian Pian had spoiled me with food.

The food at home no longer looks appetizing to me.

So she told me to have dinner here.

My mother even said the pastries you made were delicious.

Really?

Did you send pastries to Madam Yan?

I made too many when Master came home that day.

So I let Yan Yan bring some home.

Not bad, Lian Pian.

I should learn to do that.

Why did you come back so late today?

It's all Song Luo Tian's fault.

He's always late for his shift and leaves early

so I miss the time for meals.

By the way,

I saw Deputy Chief left the city just now.

Official Yan brought some men along too.

Is there an operation?

Deputy Chief left the city?

Are you sure it was him?

Yes.

Didn't you know?

I was wondering why he was behaving oddly today.

Don't tell me...

Yan Yan, follow me.

We'll be back soon.

(Qingxin Hall)

(We just received the news.)

(Our men found Official Yan still breathing)

(at the city's outskirts.)

(But he's severely poisoned.)

(Deputy Chief's whereabouts)

(is unknown.)

Careful!

Did Deputy Chief really fall from here?

That's what the soldiers at the scene said.

What about Yan San Lang?

He's still unconscious.

Let's search for him down there.

Go!

Keep searching!

Yes, sir!

Deputy Chief Yan!

Deputy Chief!

- Deputy Chief Yan!

Deputy Chief!

Yun Zhi!

Deputy Chief!

Deputy Chief Yan!

Deputy Chief!

Deputy Chief Yan!

Deputy Chief!

Yan Yun Zhi!

Deputy Chief!

Deputy Chief Yan!

Deputy Chief!

Deputy Chief Yan!

Sang Qi!

Deputy Chief!

I'm fine. Keep looking for Deputy Chief.

Calm down.

Don't lose yourself just yet.

How can I calm down at this time?

Many days have passed.

If we're late, he won't survive.

Don't say that.

No news

is good news.

Deputy Chief has excellent martial arts.

Maybe he's no longer in danger

and currently recuperating somewhere.

Deputy Chief Yan!

I hope so.

But Yan San Lang is...

Sir!

We found this pouch at the river beach.

This is for you.

Where did you find this?

The river beach over there.

Deputy Chief Yan!

Lead the way!

Let's go.

This way!

Hurry!

Quickly!

Did you find anything else?

We've searched the surroundings multiple times.

But there was no sign of Official Yan.

Where are you going?

I want to check out the area down there.

Qi,

I know you're anxious.

But we've been searching for days

without resting.

Forget about me and my men.

You won't hold on much longer.

But Deputy Chief is...

Listen to me.

Go home first.

If Director Chief really...

To search along the river

isn't something just a few of us here can complete.

I'll get more men here.

Besides,

we're not the only team doing the searching.

Let's go back to the Prefecture Court first.

Maybe there's good news.

(Tea)

Song Luo Tian!

Any news about Deputy Chief?

No,

but Wei Zhan Hong

died

in the prison of the Prefecture Court.

He's dead?

The Prefecture Court is heavily guarded.

How did this happen?

I haven't had time to investigate.

But the one who can break into the Prefecture Court and commit the murder

is by no means an ordinary person.

What about Official Yan?

How is he?

Official Yan is out of danger.

(Tea) But he's still unconscious.

His Majesty has sent an imperial physician

to treat him.

With Official Yan away,

no one is in charge of the Prefecture Court now.

His Majesty has thought of this

and sent Official Xiao from the Court of Judicial Review

to be the acting Governor of Prefecture Court.

But when I left just now,

the officer who survived

along with Official Yan woke up.

Official Xiao is doing the interrogation now.

Bai Shi went over too, I think.

Bai Shi?

Why did he go there as well?

Just look at him.

It'll be a waste of time asking.

Let's check this out ourselves.

(Prefecture Court)

Nonsense!

That's pure slander!

Sir...

(Silence. Avoidance)

I'm Left Capital Inspector of Prefecture Court, Yan Yan.

Greetings, sir.

Manager of the Archive in Imperial College, Sang Qi.

Greetings, sir.

You're here just in time.

I've just cleared up the case of the assassination of Official Yan.

The assailant has been identified.

Who is it?

Yan Yun Zhi.

That's impossible.

Bai Shi.

Young Master is framed.

Sir,

is there any evidence to prove

that Yan Yun Zhi injured Yan San Lang?

To convict someone,

we need witnesses and evidence.

Of course.

This officer is the witness.

I didn't have to explain anything to you.

But since you have a close relationship with Yan Yun Zhi

and I'm not someone who only listens to one side of the story.

There's no harm in telling you anyway.

You,

repeat what you said about what happened that day.

Yes, sir.

Sir,

I received an order

to follow Official Yan

out of the city to search for the remaining rebels of Xizhao.

The operation was supposed to be secretive.

Yan Yun Zhi suddenly caught up with us

when we were about to leave the city gate.

I thought Official Yan asked Yan Yun Zhi for help.

But I was surprised to see them arguing.

When we got out of the city

and had just arrived at the city's outskirts,

we were besieged by a group of men in black.

We were caught off guard.

In confusion, we managed to hold our ground

yet Yan Yun Zhi suddenly turned against us.

(He not only wounded the two soldiers next to him,)

(but he also...)

(He also attacked Official Yan.)

Yan Yun Zhi,

what are you doing?

Governor,

isn't it obvious?

You're one of Xizhao.

You finally realized it.

Well, it's understandable.

If you have the ability,

you wouldn't ask me to help you solve cases all the time.

Why didn't you tell me?

I never did.

You're too slow.

You never investigate it.

I told you

not to leave the city today.

But you insist on doing so.

Don't blame me for not showing any mercy then.

Heaven is watching, and there will be retribution.

Yan Yun Zhi,

I suggest you think this through.

Put down your weapon and surrender.

I may spare you and let you live.

Yan San Lang,

you know too much.

(Wait.)

You said Yan Yun Zhi said it.

But it doesn't sound

like something Deputy Chief would say.

Sir,

Yan Yun Zhi is a low-profile person.

He never talked wildly.

Everyone at the Imperial College can attest to this.

You may question them.

I think

what this person said is not true.

Are you hiding something?

What's wrong with you?

Sir,

I suddenly have a terrible headache.

It was a late night

and a sudden attack.

I suffered a serious injury.

Now, I'm feeling dizzy.

I may not be able to remember things clearly.

In short, this is generally the case.

Yan Yun Zhi indeed joined forces with the remaining rebels of Xizhao

to plot against Official Yan.

It's the truth.

I mean every word I said, sir.

You mean every word you said?

Not to mention us as his friends,

just about everyone in the Prefecture Court

knows Yan Yun Zhi got entangled with the evil Xizhao

while investigating my elder brother's cause of death.

Yan Yun Zhi's contribution cannot be forgotten.

Why would he collude with Xizhao to injure Yan San Lang?

That's right.

As far as I know,

Deputy Chief and Official Yan are bosom friends.

Why would he attack him?

Sir,

this is his one-sided story.

Deputy Chief's whereabouts remain unknown now,

and we can't verify anything.

We can't completely trust this witness.

We need physical evidence too.

Of course.

Sir,

this is the ledger found

in Yan Yun Zhi's study.

Manager Sang is only half right.

Yan Yun Zi indeed worked with Yan San Lang

in investigating Xizhao.

But he did it

not to exterminate Xizhao

but to observe Yan San Lang's investigation progress in secret.

When investigating the ledger

(Silence) handed over by Wei Zhan Hong previously,

Yan San Lang already noticed

that there were financial transactions between Yan Yun Zhi and Official Wei.

I've seen that ledger.

It has nothing to do with Deputy Chief.

You can't see the connection

because there's another ledger.

Another ledger?

Yes.

The one in Official Xiao hands right now.

There are two ledgers.

One in the open, the other in the dark.

(Ledger Transaction Records)

The records in the ledger from Yan Yun Zhi's study

and those in the ledger which Wei Zhan Hong handed over

are of one-to-one correspondence.

How did you know?

Qian Jiu.

Sir,

Qian Jiu is a Xizhao spy.

But I didn't realize it before.

So it was indeed my mistake.

But also because of that,

I know her very well

from being acquainted with her.

After I knew her true identity,

I recall the times I spent with her.

I discovered all sorts of unusual behavior of hers.

She mentioned Yan Yun Zhi's study more than once.

That's why I offered to search his study today.

As expected,

I found this secret ledger.

Did you find anything in the ledger?

Sir,

it's recorded in this ledger

that Yan Yun Zhi sold the plot of land to Official Wei.

The handwriting and ink in the ledgers

are not what have been copied recently.

It should be real.

Sir,

all these are just speculations.

It's not solid enough.

We all know

Xizhao is very useful in secret operations.

Why would Yan Yun Zhi want to get rid of such a great helper?

Qi,

this is how terrifying Yan Yun Zhi's scheming can be.

Think about it.

From Song family's tea plantation to Official Wei.

From Wei Zhan Hong

to the final extermination of Xizhao,

he was always at the scene.

Every time he was involved,

the clues always led to a dead end.

If we think about it carefully,

Yan Yun Zhi wasn't helping with the investigation.

He was helping Xizhao clean up their trails

and confusing the imperial court.

Qi,

all the information

and the so-called truth you got

was investigated by Yan Yun Zhi.

He was the one who told you.

He instilled all the information

you know into your head.

Don't you find it suspicious?

Zhuo Wen Yuan,

these are just your speculations.

As long as Official Yan wakes up,

everything will be clear.

How's Official Yan now?

Sir,

the imperial physician has diagnosed the Governor.

The situation doesn't look optimistic.

Official Yan is still unconscious.

He's relying on acupuncture and medicine to prolong his life.

We don't know if he'll wake up.

In that case,

we can't just wait.

We must find Yan Yun Zhi no matter what.

As for his identity...

Just in case,

how about we treat him as a fugitive first?

Zhuo Wen Yuan.

Zhuo Wen Yuan, what do you mean?

Are you trying to list Deputy Chief as a wanted criminal?

That's also a temporary policy.

Enough!

Stop making noise.

Just do as Official Zhuo said.

Spare no effort to cure Official Yan.

Take Bai Shi into custody at the same time

and order the arrest of Yan Yun Zhi.

- Yes, sir!

Sir!

Dismissed!

Sir!

Sir, listen to me!

Sir!

(Order without confusion. Be compassionate to victims)

(Prefecture Court)

Young Lady.

How's Official Yan?

Have you found Deputy Chief?

Don't ask me.

My mind is blank.

I don't know anything.

Let's go home first.

Wait here for me.

I'll get the horse carriage here.

Qi,

are you all right?

Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zhuo.

Why are you being so polite to me?

Let me send you home.

No, thanks.

(Prefecture Court)

Young Master,

Yan San Lang is so lucky

to escape from death.

If he wakes up,

things will be unfavorable to us.

Shall I...

No rush.

When we got rid of Wei Zhan Hong,

we already took a lot of risks.

(Prefecture Court)

People from the Prefecture Court can solve crimes.

I fear they might be aware of it.

They would

be watching Yan San Lang closely now.

It won't be easy to kill him.

Forget it.

We'll talk about this later.

Yes, sir.

(Prefecture Court)

Qi.

Why are you sleeping here?

You'll catch a cold.

Deputy Chief.

Where did you go?

When are you coming back?

Don't rush when you're faced with difficulties.

All you need to do is resting well now.

After you have enough rest,

I'll show up next to you.

Don't lie to me.

I'm so tired when you're not around.

I won't lie to you.

Come on.

Don't leave me.

Deputy Chief!

Young Lady, you're awake.

Young Lady,

when you came home yesterday,

you've been sleeping until just now.

Is it because you were too tired lately?

You must take care of yourself.

I made you chicken soup.

Drink it while it's hot.

I have no appetite.

I'm very confused.

I need to go to my brother.

Young Lady.

Brother,

what should I do now?

We don't know if Deputy Chief is still alive.

Yan San Lang is still unconscious.

What happened outside the city

remains a mystery.

I really have no clue at all.

With this mess

and my state of mind,

I can't tell what's true and what's false.

Brother,

can you give me some signs?

Young Lady.

Young Lady!

Young Lady, what's wrong?

Young Lady.

Help!

Young Lady has fainted!

Young Lady!

How is she?

Physician,

how's Young Lady?

She's troubled by thoughts and suffers from retrograde qi and blood flow.

She needs to recuperate well.

That's what the other physicians said.

But she's been resting for so many days.

Why is she not getting any better?

Well...

Don't worry.

This is a famous physician I hired.

His diagnosis won't go wrong.

Besides, illnesses go away slowly.

Recovery doesn't happen overnight.

Follow the physician to get the prescription first.

Okay.

Qi,

why are you still holding this pouch?

Shall I keep it for you?

It was Deputy Chief's.

He's gone.

Why do you still keep this pouch?

I'll be with you from now on anyway.

Give it to me.

Qi,

I know you have a lot of misunderstandings

about me these days.

But to me,

you're still my best friend.

I'm also the one you can count on the most.

If you need anything in the future,

you can just tell me.

I'll do my best to fulfill it.

Take good care of yourself.

I'll visit you often.

Physician,

how serious is Sang Qi's illness?

Apart from severe anxiousness,

from her pulse,

there's a sign of toxin invading her body.

Young Master.

How did it go?

Young Master, I was incompetent.

We've taken care of Yan San Lang.

But Yan Yun Zhi was injured and fell off the cliff.

No trace of him so far.

I only found this.

The pouch he carried with him at all times.

Jing Mu,

bring me the white porcelain bottle

Qian Jiu left.

♪As our fate intertwined, which life should we pick?♪

♪I'm willing to trade this life for a chance to meet you in every life♪

♪Many woes and sorrows fill my existence♪

♪If persevering♪

♪Makes us fall in love with each other♪

♪That's how I come to this life♪

♪If not letting go of my past♪

♪Becomes my mistake♪

♪Then I shall not make that mistake♪

♪This beautiful story♪

♪Is like the way I look when I make up my mind♪

♪But my heart changed its mind♪

♪At the dawn♪

♪What an unexpected love♪

♪And so I wrote my words with joy♪

♪I have accepted this life I reincarnated in♪

♪May this budding romance♪

♪Develop into something unforgettable♪

♪May this budding romance♪

♪Develop into something unforgettable♪