Original subtitles

I just want to break free from this cage,

to live without going against my heart.

Is that too much to ask?

You see your grandfather

as a cage?

Can't you see

how I shield you from hardship every day?

Do you think tinkering with those things every day

will make everything go your way?

You're naive to the point of foolishness.

All under heaven is the emperor's land.

When fame and fortune turn to emptiness,

a true cage will await you.

Sir,

Physician Li has arrived.

Please invite Physician Li to see the young master.

Yes.

Send the physician away.

I won't see him.

The physician told us

to present this item

if the young master refuses to see him.

=Blossom= (Adapted from the novel "Blossom" by Zhi Zhi)

=Episode 9=

Today, we part ways, Mr. Chen.

If there has been any neglect or offense,

please forgive us.

You are too kind, Lord Song.

I am merely a commoner in coarse robes.

I have troubled you for so long at your residence.

I feel deeply ashamed.

Though I don't favor your character,

I must admit you are a rare talent.

Why lower yourself to serve a girl from a rural manor?

I am a sinner, tainted and disgraced.

Now, in my old age,

the Fourth Young Lady for not abandoning me,

taking me as her aide,

and allowing me to live out my days in peace.

For that, I am content.

Your loyalty to the Fourth Young Lady

only piques my curiosity about her.

Thankfully, the chill hasn't reached the lungs.

From now on, take two doses in the morning and evening.

Young master, you must take your medicine.

My lady risked danger to come here.

Do not disappoint her.

Mind your words.

I thought I made myself clear last time,

young master.

All worldly matters pale in comparison to life itself.

Why trouble yourself, young master?

I didn't mean to use my illness

to coerce you.

It's just that your question last time

struck a chord with me.

I understand how you feel.

But, Mr. Wu,

did your grandfather consult you

when he assigned you to the Ministry of Rites?

Even you have no control over your own fate.

Why think about protecting someone else?

I have always respected my grandfather.

He was never wrong about anything.

But when it comes to marriage,

I cannot base it solely on right or wrong

and ignore my own wishes.

If I weren't born into this prestigious family,

and instead became a humble carpenter,

would I be freer?

Though men and women are different,

when it comes to marriage,

you and I face similar struggles.

You liken yourself to this wooden bird,

I understand.

But have you ever considered

that in the Grand Secretariat, people come and go,

yet your grandfather struggles tirelessly

to maintain order in the court.

Regardless of whether you marry,

he needs your support.

Had you excelled in your career

and restored power to the Wu family,

he would have no reason to pressure you to marry.

You can earn your freedom,

no matter what family you're born into.

I've been too narrow-minded,

trapped in my own dead-end thinking.

Opposing my grandfather

will only hurt us both.

If I can gain the Emperor's favor

and restore the Wu family's power,

then I will have the right to choose for myself.

Humans are not lifeless objects.

Even if trapped in a cage,

we must nurture our strength

so that we may fend for ourselves.

Dawn is breaking.

I must take my leave.

Lord Song,

my lady specifically sent me to fetch Mr. Chen.

She didn't come herself?

Did something urgent come up?

I am only following orders,

I know nothing else.

Please understand.

Our young lord has always been accommodating,

but sending a maid instead of coming herself

seems a little disrespectful.

Lu Ming,

send the gift back

to Fourth Young Lady as well.

Yes.

Farewell.

Wait.

Physician Li.

The Fourth Young Lady disguised herself as Physician Li.

I've captured Su Lan.

She's in the carriage right now.

(Report)

Physician Li, thank you for your hard work.

You may leave for now.

Thank you, my lord.

Lu Ming.

Yes.

Go invite the Fourth Young Lady here.

Yes.

Fourth Young Lady.

Can we meet for a fifth time?

Even if you don't change your mind,

I'd be happy

just to see you again.

If you could live happily and freely,

wouldn't that be better than seeing me?

Take care.

Old Master Wu.

After you, Physician.

Wait.

Grandfather.

She's the imperial physician Yantang invited.

Imperial physician?

Would you mind turning around and let me take a look?

Physician Li.

Old Master Wu.

Lord Song and Physician Li

have arranged to meet at Guanghe Tower.

He sent me to invite Physician Li.

Since that's the case,

I won't hold you up any longer.

You're finally willing to see a physician.

I'm guessing

her surname is Dou?

Now that you've seen her,

be sure to rest well.

Grandfather.

I was wrong.

Since my early education,

everything in my life has been decided by you.

What books to read, whom to befriend,

which teachers to study under,

and where to serve as an official.

Even what I eat for breakfast is arranged by you.

Sometimes, I truly envy Dou Zhao,

and also Yantang,

for their freedom and lack of constraints.

Grandfather,

I know the court is treacherous

and unpredictable.

Our entire family relies solely on your strength.

I will strive diligently

to weather these challenges with you.

Under Dou Shishu's order,

the Ding Army has been fully disarmed.

The army is accused of harboring rebellious intent

and has been sent back to their hometowns.

The Fourth Young Lady kept you occupied here,

and even tied up Physician Li.

The court has acted against the Ding Army.

It's Fifth Uncle.

Previously, I took great risks to save Song Mo,

and through our interactions, his hostility had all but disappeared.

But in the end, it was all in vain.

My lord,

the Fourth Young Lady's carriage will arrive shortly.

Good.

Convey my regards to her.

Yes.

Fourth Young Lady, there's an issue.

Openly do one thing while secretly planning something else.

Very clever, Fourth Young Lady.

On behalf of Lord Song,

may I request

an explanation?

There's nothing to explain.

My lord says,

since the pact is broken,

we will not return Chen Qushui.

Next time we meet,

you'll be considered an enemy.

My lady, why didn't you explain yourself?

It was all Master Dou Shishu's doing,

and has nothing to do with you.

If he trusts me,

there's no need to explain.

If he doesn't trust me,

an explanation is useless.

Better to remain silent.

Miss, don't blame yourself.

The imperial will is not something we can defy anyway.

My lord,

are you letting it go just like that?

The truth of the matter

is still uncertain.

If her intention was to first show kindness and then scheme,

why would she console Dezhen?

Let's wait and see.

My lord, despite all your precautions,

your emotions are still vulnerable.

The Fourth Young Lady is unpredictable,

and you are soft-hearted.

Why not just marry her and keep her at home?

That way, you'd be safe.

Are you itching for a beating?

Want a taste of the rod?

I...

There you are.

The Shadow Guards have found the travel records.

As expected,

one person slipped through.

Owing 300 taels and still daring to cheat?

Addicted.

And bold as well.

I told you,

someone will settle my debt.

Do you think I'm a fool?

If you kill him, you'll get nothing.

Our young master has questions.

Please clear the place for us.

There's the person who will settle my debt.

You used to be a junior officer in the Shadow Guard.

Given your former rank,

your annual stipend was no more than ten taels.

In just a few days, you've incurred a debt of 300 taels.

No wonder you were dismissed.

Compared to the information you seek,

300-tael debt is insignificant.

Cheat the house,

and you lose your finger.

Cheat me,

and you lose your life.

Of course.

Surely, you've looked into my background.

According to the records of the Pacification Bureau,

there were eight Shadow Guards assigned to escort southward.

I traced the waterways outlined in the travel records

in order to identify these eight individuals.

But the travel record shows

that there was a ninth person.

And you

are that ninth person.

(Zhaowen Bookstore)

Ansu,

why did you come here so suddenly?

(Urgent letter to Dou Zhao) Mr. Ji sent a letter from Futing.

Officials from the Maritime Trade Bureau detained our ship and imprisoned my family.

Fifth Master sent word to the manor,

ordering you to sever ties with my family

and end all business dealings.

But on that ship,

there were only eight Shadow Guard corpses.

I remember every single face

among them.

Except for you, Chen Jia.

You weren't on that ship.

Your memory is truly eidetic,

just as everyone says.

Enough chatter. Tell us the truth!

Chen Zuxun, the commander responsible for escorting the Duke of Ding,

was my adoptive father.

My name was not listed in the official roster.

He wanted me to redeem myself through merit and took me along.

That night, as we traveled through the Cangzhou Canal,

we docked to rest briefly.

A group of people boarded the ship.

I was at the stern getting fresh air

when I suddenly heard a clash in the cabin.

They wielded the swords of Dongyu bandits,

but their technique was different from Dongyu bandits.

Their skills were extraordinary,

even the Shadow Guards couldn't match them.

They even killed my adoptive father.

I was no match for them.

I escaped by jumping into the water during the chaos.

Who were those people?

If you want to know more,

a thousand taels may not be enough.

You clearly don't know,

yet you dare bargain with me.

Ring finger or little finger?

I'm a gambler by nature.

I've endured enough cold stares and debts.

The only one who ever treated me as human, my adoptive father,

died a wrongful death.

Whether it's my fingers or my life,

take whatever you want.

A dog salivates at the sound of a bowl being struck.

A gambler relapses at the sound of dice shaking.

With your skills, you could've built a decent future.

That's probably why your adoptive father never gave up on you.

It's a pity he made such a poor choice.

You have no right to talk about him like that.

A child's debt to his parents is immeasurable.

The people who killed him

are the same people who killed my uncle.

Instead of seeking vengeance or repaying his kindness,

you squander your days gambling

and live without purpose?

I saw through the lies a long time ago.

Whether a junior officer

or a commander,

the Shadow Guards are merely tools at others' disposal,

ants to be crushed at will.

As for revenge,

I will never achieve it even if I risk my life.

I don't know who those people were,

but the leader wore crimson official robes,

so he must be at least a fifth-rank official.

Even my adoptive father allowed him to pass and addressed him as "sir."

He must be a high-ranking court official.

Why did the Shadow Guards torture my uncle?

Secret orders.

The instructions were to force the Duke of Ding

to confess to raising a private army.

Whose secret orders?

My adoptive father never disclosed it.

My lord.

I didn't have the courage before.

But after meeting you today,

and hearing your words,

I no longer wish

to live disgracefully.

I want revenge.

I want to live with dignity and purpose.

Please grant me this chance.

I am willing to stake my life.

How can I trust the words of a cheating gambler?

Ask the Earl of Yunyang to help

reinstate him into the Northern Pacification Bureau.

Yes.

From now on, you are one of my men.

Keep your finger.

You're going to need it to fight for me.

Zhao, don't worry.

The Maritime Trade Bureau has always been

all bark but no bite.

They just want a little bribe.

I'll go to Futing to handle it.

After all, this concerns your principal

and profits.

I'll go with you.

What about Mr. Chen?

Knowing Song Mo,

he won't simply harm Mr. Chen.

No.

Fifth Master has already sent a message.

If the Maritime Trade Bureau were only seeking bribes,

Fifth Uncle wouldn't have known about it.

Since he knows,

that means it must involve court politics.

I have to go.

Futing hasn't yet recovered from the disaster.

The troops are frustrated,

even the Ministry of Imperial Ceremony is involved.

It's clearly in a perilous situation.

That's all the more reason you shouldn't go, Zhao.

No matter what happens,

I will ensure your principal is returned.

What nonsense are you talking about?

I don't care about money.

I care about your family and our business.

We can't let them

manipulate us like this.

I'll go.

At least I can try to negotiate a way out.

(Duke of Ying's Residence)

Yantang.

Mother.

Why are you out here?

General Yan said

you were going to Futing to retrieve old family belongings.

It may fool your father,

but not me.

Is it about your uncle?

Did you find any clues?

This involves someone with high rank and authority.

I must leave immediately.

If I'm late,

I fear all evidence and clues will be lost.

You're just like me,

once you've made up your mind, no one can stop you.

The Emperor has put Wang Yuan in charge of this matter.

When you go, no matter what you uncover,

do not oppose Eunuch Wang directly.

General Yan,

I leave this to you.

Please don't worry, Madam.

Mother,

rest assured.

Stay safe.

Don't push yourself too hard.

I've already lost my brother.

I can't lose you too.

Here, take this cloak.

♪The army halts at your command♪

Good thing I've mended this cloak.

♪The golden fiery steed rides across the vast horizon♪

♪In this life, oh without you What is there to envy?♪

Go now.

♪Let me lay down my blade and leave the sea of battles♪

♪To adorn your hair with a jade hairpin♪

Mother,

I'll be back.

♪Only for you, I shall paint With bold strokes and vibrant colors♪

♪And for all else Let it remain pale and void♪

What's wrong with Zhao?

She's been like this since meeting Lord Song.

She's probably worried

because Mr. Chen hasn't returned.

Zhao,

why don't you eat something?

You haven't eaten all day.

I'm not hungry. You all eat first.

I wonder how the manor is doing.

Will there be any trouble?

The Fourth Young Lady's pulse is strong and steady.

It seems there's nothing wrong.

How could there be nothing wrong?

Dou Zhao is covered in blisters and itching terribly.

Are you a quack?

Why don't you check again?

Wait.

Her pulse is fluctuating.

Peculiar...

Very peculiar indeed!

By the way, Fourth Young Lady,

could I take a look

at your blisters?

Take a look?

She's an unmarried young lady.

How audacious of you.

Get out.

No, I...

Go prescribe medicine.

Easy...

Grandmother.

How is Dou Zhao doing?

Let me see her.

Please don't.

Dou Zhao has chickenpox.

If you catch it,

we'll all be worried.

The doctor has already gone to prescribe medicine.

She should recover in ten days or so.

Medicine alone won't help.

This disease is terribly painful to endure.

Let me take a look at her.

Grandmother...

Wait,

don't come in.

You haven't fully recovered yourself.

If you catch chickenpox from me,

I'll feel even more guilty.

See?

That's why I said,

since I've had chickenpox before,

let me take care of her.

You should go back and rest.

Don't worry,

I promise to return Dou Zhao to you, healthy and plump in a few days.

- Are you sure? - Go.

You too, go.

Don't worry. I've got this.

Oh, heavens, gods of fortune, and Guan Yu,

please bless Dou Zhao and Ansu with a safe return.

Fifth Master has been promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief,

and Mr. Wang has joined the Secretariat.

We'll be interacting with them often from now on.

Our lives

will only improve with Madam Wang's help.

We just need to sit back and watch

the money we entrusted to her grow.

I win!

Seventh Madam.

Excuse me for a moment.

Whose turn is it to draw a tile?

Seventh Madam.

Someone saw Fourth Young Lady

and Miss Miao leaving the city gate

and heading south.

Understood. You may leave.

Yes.

They're probably heading to Futing.

The Miao family's merchant ships

were detained in Futing by the Maritime Trade Bureau.

Of course they're anxious, their source of income has been cut off.

A young lady leaving the household without permission,

isn't that a disgrace to the family?

She's practically handing us

leverage against her.

Let's bring her back and hold her accountable.

No need to rush.

If we capture her now,

her punishment would be

a few days of kneeling at most.

Then Dou Shiying will pity her again.

That girl likes to stir up trouble, doesn't she?

Futing is now like a tiger's den.

Let's see how capable she really is.

(Futing)

Spare us some food, please...

We'll trade tea for rice.

Eight measures of tea for one measure of rice.

No shoving. Here, take it.

Step back, everyone.

No shoving, please.

There's enough.

Here.

No shoving.

There's enough for everyone.

Here.

No shoving.

No shoving.

How did Futing become like this?

The people can't even get a proper meal.

In recent years, the maritime trade boomed, and tea trading was profitable.

Everyone switched from growing rice to tea.

After the Duke of Ding's death, the maritime trade ceased.

Now, they can't sell the tea at all.

Exactly.

And the government does nothing?

Who would dare intervene?

Anyone who does is accused of colluding with the Miao family merchants.

Several major tea firms invested

in the Miao family's ships.

Now the ships are detained,

the money is gone,

and the goods are still being held on board.

It's all my father's fault for being greedy and ignoring advice.

He even got the townsfolk to invest in shipbuilding,

and now so many people are harmed.

Mr. Miao didn't intend to deceive anyone.

It's not fair to call it harm.

Halting trade and detaining ships

is what truly cuts off people's livelihoods.

Once we enter the city,

we should meet with Ji Yong first.

He knows the situation in Futing's bureaucracy

and the Maritime Trade Bureau's motives

better than we do.

Su Lan,

go buy some dry rations.

We still have a journey ahead.

Got it.

Stop!

Stop right there!

No. Keep moving.

Let's go.

Are you Miss Miao?

Supervisor Ding Wei of the Maritime Trade Bureau summons you.

And you,

you must be Dou Zhao.

Take them away.

Ji Yong.

(Futing County Office)

Untie them.

The Miao family colluded with pirates,

the evidence is irrefutable.

If you sign, you're admitting guilt.

If you don't sign, the punishment will be even worse.

Impossible.

My father would never commit treason.

The Miao family runs maritime trade.

The pirates plunder our seas and kill our people.

We despise them.

Why would we collude with them?

During the previous maritime ban,

how many unruly merchants colluded with pirates?

Your father must have taken bribes from some pirates

to engage in such a heinous act.

Are you suggesting

the Miao family colluded with pirates to kill the Duke of Ding?

Murdering a pillar of our nation is a grave crime,

how can you simply accuse us?

Besides, Eunuch Wang Yuan is in Futing.

How will you explain yourself if this leads to a miscarriage of justice?

Insolence!

You know this is a serious crime, yet you're still so defiant.

Bring in the evidence.

Take a good look.

These pirate swords were found aboard

your family's merchant ship.

They're identical to the one that killed the Duke of Ding.

This is irrefutable proof of your murderous crime.

Impossible.

I personally kept the merchant ship's logs.

For this journey, we carried only tea, fruits, silks, and porcelain.

There were absolutely no weapons.

The escort, Xue Ping,

the goods inspector, Li Gui,

and the Maritime Trade Bureau clerk, Liu Limu,

can all testify.

Lord Ding, may I ask you,

where are the witnesses?

Yes, where are they?

Where's the testimony?

Where are the witnesses?

Bring them out!

We can't wrong the innocent!

Silence!

It's not your place to tell me

how to conduct my investigation.

You want witnesses?

Aren't you witnesses yourselves?

Guards, take them to the county jail.

Interrogate me if you must, but don't touch her.

She is the granddaughter of the Cui family of Ji'an

and the eldest daughter of the Dou family.

How dare you lay hands on her?

Your family's affairs are my affairs.

I was sent by my family to resolve this misunderstanding.

The rest of my family will arrive shortly.

Do you still intend to fabricate charges?

The relatives of high officials?

Perhaps I'll uncover evidence of factionalism and corruption too.

That would earn me even more merit.

Take them away!

(Prison)

Stop.

Why isn't the questioning conducted in the public court,

before the eyes of the citizens?

Are you aware this is an abuse of power?

Using torture to extract a confession is a serious crime.

Fourth Young Lady Dou, you're a clever person.

All I need is a confession in writing.

If you admit to the Miao family's crimes,

you'll be released immediately.

The Miao family has done nothing wrong.

What is there to confess?

Then you leave me no choice

but to say you had your chance.

I interrogated

Miao Ansu.

I pulled out all ten of her fingernails.

Take a good look.

She confessed everything.

Sisterly bonds?

If you don't confess,

you'll be the one

who bears all the blame.

Why are you laughing?

I'm laughing at your stupidity.

Before accusing someone, shouldn't you do your research first?

Even if someone were to betray me,

Miao Ansu would be the last person to do so.

Lord Ding, all you're missing is a witness.

Without it, you can't close the case.

So you're trying to muddle through

by finding a scapegoat.

Very well.

It seems you won't confess

without torture.

Let's see if you dare.

He doesn't dare to.

But I do.

Song Mo!

Lord Song.

Fourth Young Lady.

We meet again.

Lord Ding, finger torture

is child's play.

What can you uncover with it?

Your reputation for interrogation precedes you, Lord Song.

No one in the world can rival you.

So tell me,

what method should I use?

Acid, when it touches an open wound,

is excruciatingly painful.

Song Mo is no longer in the military.

Why show him courtesy?

He may no longer hold a position,

but he's still the Duke of Ying's son.

Since the day he was born,

I've had to show him respect.

Yes.

He is enemies with the Dou family,

so letting him settle this matter

might actually be better.

True.

My uncle's death...

Your deception...

Today,

we'll settle the score.

The Miao family and I were able

to run a profitable business

because the Duke of Ding kept the pirates at bay.

Why would I harm him?

You may think so,

but your uncle, Dou Shishu,

had ambitions beyond his reach.

By killing my uncle,

he could throw the court into chaos

and seize the opportunity to rise to power.

Power

leads to wealth.

I told you,

don't lump me together with my fifth uncle.

You befriended me

in order to leak information to your uncle,

causing the Ding Army to be disarmed.

Shouldn't I doubt you?

Lord Song grew up on the battlefield.

He is truly a savage.

Even toward a helpless girl,

he showed no mercy.

This medicinal powder from the military

will help your hand heal.

At least make some noise.

Be serious, they are listening.

Scold me.

Scold you?

Yes, scold me.

Are you a snake?

You only know how to bite, don't you?

It's my uncle who's scheming.

Why don't you interrogate him?

Why do you only pick on me?

Can't you see he's trying to cover himself?

I can see that.

But do you have evidence?

Take me to the ship.

I'll find the evidence.

So twisted.

I like it.

There's one more thing.

Sixteen years ago, before the maritime trade opened,

Futing merchants were struggling to make a profit.

You were just a young girl in Zhending.

Why did you decide to invest a huge sum in Futing?

If it wasn't premeditated,

how could you have known my uncle would eliminate the pirates

and earn massive profits?

It was Mr. Chen's suggestion.

The Duke of Ding was courageous.

He was bound to succeed.

Miao Ansu defended you,

saying that at the start of the year,

you had already said maritime trade was peaking

and the Futing business had to be withdrawn quickly.

It seemed

you knew my uncle would die.

I can see it.

You're hiding something from me.

Why won't you tell me?

Speak.

The emperor is cold and unkind, repaying loyalty with betrayal.

Loyal ministers and brave generals die in vain.

So why can't the traitor

be me, Song Mo?

♪Can anyone ease♪

♪the pain of goodbye?♪

♪If dreams are shattered, can they be whole again?♪

♪If today brings hope, will it stay?♪

♪Will the pain just weave itself deeper?♪

♪Where can this restless heart find peace?♪

♪Left alone in an empty hall♪

♪A lifetime chasing fate's lonely call♪

♪Watching seasons fade and storms rise♪

♪It hurts but it's not all for nothing♪

♪My heart is as empty as a quiet street♪

♪Who cares about the path I walk alone?♪

♪Would you take away the weight of the past?♪

♪Life is fleeting, like morning frost♪

♪Even a moment feels endless with you♪

♪Like a stream flowing steady through time♪

♪A lone flower falls from the eaves Moonlight graces steps beneath♪

♪Can anyone ease the pain of goodbye?♪

♪If dreams are shattered, can they be whole again?♪

♪If today brings hope, will it stay?♪

♪Will the pain just weave itself deeper?♪

♪In this chaotic world♪

♪Only love lasts♪

♪We'll get through every challenge together♪

♪No matter how cold or uncertain the road♪

♪There's nothing to fear when I'm with you♪

♪My heart feels empty♪

♪But I can hear your voice♪

♪In this life, under moonlight and across the oceans♪

♪We'll find our way back to each other♪

(No animals were harmed in the making of this drama)

(Every medical behaviour involved and medicine used in the drama)

(is required by the story. Please don't try this at home)

♪Together, we'll make every moment count♪