Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty]

[Episode 31]

Back then,

you were very decisive

in front of me.

How can you deserve

Her Highness's trust all these years?

Gao Zhongyi，

you always believe

Huaishen is your man.

Crown Prince also thinks

Huaishen is his man.

So,

you are not only making a slight error,

but also being blind.

This...

Brother Huaishen,

since we are such good friends,

please say something for me.

I am kowtowing to you.

Please don't.

You are the Prefectural Governor.

I'm just a Minister.

I've already put in a good word for you.

Her Highness wanted to tear you asunder by five carts at first.

That's too painful.

Yes, yes, yes.

Finally, Her Highness decided

to give each of you

a pedal of Face Flower

exquisitely made by Resident Regent Li.

Apply it on your face，

and it'll be all over.

Your Highness, please spare my life.

Spare my life!

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Spare my life!

Spare my life, Your Highness.

-Wait! -Spare my life!

Your Highness,

You don't have to do this.

I'm punishing the traitor.

Say no more.

Your Highness, you're trying so hard

to make sure all of your men

tested and selected.

What?

Is the storm really coming?

I hope you can stand with me

when the storm comes.

Gao Zhongyi didn't pass the test.

But you passed.

I'm touched.

In order to test

whether they are loyal to you,

you took so many innocent lives

of young women in Luoyang

as the price.

Great things are achieved

without regard to trifles.

The lives of our people are not trivial.

Your Highness,

if you really become the empress,

it will be

the suffering of the world.

How dare you say that?

Your teacher Di Renjie

did his best

to assist my mother.

With the time passing now,

I can understand more and more,

how hard it was for my teacher back then.

Su Wuming.

So you won't help me?

Your Highness,

the Tang Dynasty can't stand any more trouble.

It's against heaven's will

that you try to usurp the throne right now.

My brother is the Emperor now.

But everyone knows

he is weak.

My nephew

is still young,

and can't conquer the world.

Only I can make the empire prosper.

Besides,

how is that against the heaven's will

if I only try to restore my mother's empire?

Your Highness, please calm down.

Please calm down.

You are right.

I'd like to propose a toast to you.

Please calm down.

Gao Zhongyi sailed with the wind,

and had no face to live.

But the assassin who tried to kill Crown Prince

is drinking here safe and sound.

How ridiculous.

What did you say?

To kill Crown Prince?

Who assassinated Crown Prince?

Your Highness can ask

your trusted subordinate.

Crown Prince has returned to Chang'an.

Who assassinated Crown Prince?

Su Wuming.

Don't talk nonsense.

What happened?

How would I know?

Maybe he knew that he infuriated Your Highness,

and he would be beheaded,

so he talks nonsense.

Your Highness,

please take a look.

Do you know the person on this painting?

Xin Huaishen.

Isn't the person in the painting

you?

Why are you wearing a scarf?

This...

Who painted this?

This is painted by my sworn sister,

Pei Xijun.

According to the statement

of Lady Hu Shisi in Paradise Inn,

the person on the painting paid her a fortune

to assassinate Crown Prince.

Don't make up stories.

Minister Xin，

your first identity

is Prefectural Governor Gao's man.

Second identity is Crown Prince's man.

And third identity is

Her Highness's man.

You used Crown Prince's trust in you

and learned that Crown Prince didn't return to Chang'an,

but stayed in Luoyang

to supervise the case of Face Flower.

So you secretly schemed

to assassinate Crown Prince

without Her Highness's permission.

Xin Huaishen.

Am I right?

Su Wuming.

Are you telling the truth?

Although the painting looks alike,

I wouldn't be so sure

if he had no stammer.

Your Highness,

I was just trying to

to solve your problems in advance.

How dare you!

The business between Crown Prince and me

is family business.

I can handle it my own way.

How dare you assassinate Crown Prince!

Where is Crown Prince now?

I've told him

that you wanted to see him before your coming demise.

He should be

on his way here.

How dare you!

Aunt.

My respect to you, aunt.

You really didn't go back to Chang'an?

His Highness

worried about Your Highness

so he came back.

Your Highness,

the Paradise Inn

I told you earlier

is the place dwelled by the Tocharian woman

who sells Face Flower.

That place is not only old and shabby,

but also mixed with good and evil people.

It's extremely dangerous.

Crown Prince only lives there

to find clues

about Face Flower

in order to save Your Highness.

Impossible.

Su Wuming.

In two hours,

my aunt will die.

Did you find the criminal

and get the antidote?

Don't worry, Your Highness.

Her Highness is not poisoned by Face Flower.

Aunt,

what he said is true.

You're fine.

That's great.

Your Highness,

as you can see,

it is a blessing for the world to have such a Crown Prince.

Once Crown Prince rule the world someday,

he will create a prosperous era

for our Tang Dynasty.

Isn't your conclusion

made too early?

Look how hypocritical his smile is.

Is it happy or disappointed

deep inside his heart?

I'm afraid only he knows.

Aunt,

why are you saying that?

Alright. I' m tired.

Gao Zhongyi and the others

are your people now.

You decide

what to do with them.

Aunt,

there are no people of yours

nor people of mine.

Only people of Tang Dynasty.

What a good speech.

Huaishen, let's go.

Why are you laughing?

Your Highness,

you can't leave now.

Resident Regent Li.

What did you say?

I say you can't leave now.

Li Yue.

What are you doing?

I didn't expect

even Li Yue became your man.

Aunt,

I'm also surprised at

what he just said.

At this point,

why can't you admit it?

Since I can't leave,

then I won't leave.

Let's see

what you can do to me.

Li Yue, what are you doing?

You just said

there are only people of Tang Dynasty.

It's wrong.

I'm not from the Tang Dynasty.

All these years,

I have endured humiliation

just to wait for

for this opportunity.

You argued

who Xin Huaishen works for.

But you don't have any idea that

he's my man.

Uncle,

please give the command.

After killing the princess and Crown Prince,

there will only be the cowardly emperor

left in Chang'an.

Tang Dynasty will be doomed.

You despicable traitor.

You only found out today?

It's too late.

Do you think what I gave you

was a beautiful Face Flower?

Let me tell you.

What you had is no different

from what they had on the market.

In two hours,

your face will turn into a skull.

Do it!

Kill them all!

Your Highness,

please stay here.

No matter what happens,

don't come out.

Your Highness, don't be afraid.

If we are going to die,

I will die before Your Highness.

Stop! All of You!

Li Yue.

You let go of my aunt.

I'll stay.

You can do whatever you want. How's that?

Why are you doing this?

Lu Dong, don't listen to him.

Protect Crown Prince

and get out of here.

Her Highness is right.

Your Highness, please leave with me.

You are too naive.

None of you can leave tonight.

Your Highness.

My nephew.

It's my fault.

Don't let that traitor escape.

My dear bear, that man

and the woman in the room.

Kill them both

and revenge for me.

Lu Lingfeng.

The weak part of the bear lies in the nose.

Lu Lingfeng.

Meteorite Bear is fierce.

No one can survive if you continue to fight.

Leave me alone.

Take my aunt away!

Your Highness.

This bear is too tall and big.

You can't hit its weak part.

Take Her Highness away quickly.

Lu Lingfeng.

Have you forgotten

the Ghost Four and bronze devil?

Xue Huan.

Take the knife.

Stand on my spear.

Attack its weak part.

My dear bear.

In this case,

then see you next life.

My face.

My face!

My face!

My face is so hot.

Lu Lingfeng.

Take Her Highness to find Chicken Fed.

Check if his medicine is ready.

Wait.

Your...

What are you waiting for?

Save my aunt!

Yes.

Your Highness.

What is happening to my face?

My face.

[Go to the upper east gate]

Master Fed.

Do you want to take a rest?

I'm not tired.

Once you make the antidote,

and save the people of Dongdu,

you will have great merits.

Tell me.

If I really save Her Highness,

will she award me

a high-rank official?

I don't care its rank

and I don't care

if it is a formal official or an informal official.

I'll take it as long as it is given to me.

Fed, save Her Highness!

Her Highness is really here.

My face!

My face!

My face!

Hold her hand. Don't let her scratch her face.

-Xijun. -What's happening to my face?

Hold it.

Wait a minute.

I'll get the antidote right now.

Hold it.

Look at my face.

Your Highness!

Ji'er.

Are you really my Ji'er?

Your...

The medicine is here.

The medicine is here.

The medicine...

The antidote made by Chicken Fed

has successfully detoxified

the poison of Face Flower.

Her Highness is getting better.

Dongdu has restored

its previous tranquility.

The relationship between Crown Prince and Her Highness

gets better and better.

Stop!

Where are you going?

Yingtao, let me remind you.

I am now

the Administrator of Luozhou.

Don't you have to show me some respect

when talking to me?

I don't care.

I'm looking for you

because of your sworn sister.

My sworn sister?

My father heard the news

that I was in Dongdu,

so he sent someone to pick me up.

The person who came said

he missed me a lot over the past year.

He couldn't sleep at night.

He has headaches and

his hair turns grey a lot.

I can understand and relate that

Assistant Minister Pei is missing his daughter.

You want me to go back to Chang' an?

Of course.

You have to go back sooner or later.

What?

Are you still worried that

you will never see Lu Lingfeng again?

You worry too much.

Lu Lingfeng and Crown Prince

are on good terms as before.

And he made a great contribution this time.

I think he'll be called back to Chang'an

in a few days.

I thought of that.

I'm worried about Xue Huan.

Nice place.

You recovered quite quickly.

All thanks to Chicken Fed's medicine

and Yingtao's care.

You look so happy.

You're an hour late

even though I am buying you a drink.

Administrator Su is so arrogant.

Please.

There's no rush.

Let me ask you first.

Why did you invite me to drink?

Are you going back to Chang'an?

So what if it is?

Congratulations.

But there are some things which need to be settled

before you leave.

Early this morning,

Regimental Commander Wei sent a message that

Her Highness ordered us

to meet her

in the Meditation Abode of Blessing Temple this afternoon.

You don't have to go,

but I have to.

So you must tell me

what happened

between you and Her Highness.

Or I don't know how to answer her

if she asks me.

I have no dealings with her.

Then who is Ji'er

she spoke of?

Pei Xijun learned to pass the message.

Xijun told me this

for your own good.

Her Highness is the most powerful woman

in Tang.

But she is moody.

I'm afraid that she will hate out of love.

There's no love.

We only have deep hatred.

My parents

were killed by her.

If it weren't for Crown Prince,

I would never have save her life

that day.

I once told you

I was born in Luoyang.

I've never seen my parents since I was young.

I was raised in Serenity Temple

which is called Blessing Temple now.

At that time,

she often dressed as a civilian

to visit me.

She brought me

food and clothes.

I've seen her pay the monk.

This is the early memory

of my life.

So, even though I was an orphan,

I had nothing to worry about.

At that time, I thought

she was very cordial.

And I even thought

if she was my mother.

Until one day,

my father showed up.

Your father?

Didn't you just say that...

This man who

I called father

was actually my uncle.

How old are you?

Five.

How about I teach you how to study?

Okay.

Later I found out

my uncle only pretended to study in the temple

for the exam.

In fact, he wanted to take me away.

He told me the truth

after we were back in Fanyang.

The woman who often came to see me.

The so-called aunt

is the princess of our dynasty.

And she killed my parents.

She raised me in the temple

as a bait

to catch more of my father's accomplices.

Who is your father?

When the sound rises, the north wind rises.

The sword is strong and the south is flat.

Sobbing makes the mountain collapse.

Reproach makes wind and cloud change colors.

With this, we can defeat the enemy.

With this, we'll be able to win.

This is a poem made by Luo Bingwang

in the name of Li Jing Ye.

So,

your father was against Empress Wu Zetian

bace then.

The Lu family of Fanyang

has always been protecting the legitimate Tang.

How could he tolerate her usurping the country?

[Blessing Temple]

Her Highness asked Administrator Su to come in first.

My greetings, Your Highness.

Has he arrived?

Yes.

Do you know why

I let you in first?

I don't know.

I don't have the courage to see him.

I'm afraid he won't recognize me.

Why did you say he recognizes you,

Your Highness?

Su Wuming.

You surely know

I have many children.

But the first one

is not with me now.

It's a long story.

That was more than 20 years ago.

I was 19 years old.

Mother doted on me.

I was also willful.

One day, I went to the riverside

in the south of the city.

Who are you?

Don't move!

The guards wanted to execute him.

I pardoned him.

I knew,

I fell in love with him at that moment.

Be carefull.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival that year,

the moon in Luoyang was so round.

So beautiful.

I was

so happy and bold.

Finally I didn't come back to Palace.

That night,

I got pregnant.

He told me

he's from Caozhou.

He studied in Yi Gate of Luoyang

to be an official one day.

I've been to his hut.

But I knew

he didn't tell me

his real identity.

I accidentally found

his longsword

was engraved with the words

"From Li JingYe"

which was hidden in his hut.

I see.

The so-called scholar

is Li Jing Ye's subordinate.

After that, he tried every means

to inquire about my mother's whereabouts.

At the time, the Long Gate was opening the cave.

My mother often went there.

I know

he was looking for an opportunity to assassinate my mother.

I got angry

for he took advantage of me.

So I played along

and asked my mother to capture him at the Long Gate.

However,

he didn't blame me

after he knew it was planned by me.

But when I realized

he didn't blame me because he loved me,

he already killed himself.

What's his name?

Yang Guan.

It could not be his real name.

After his death,

my mother sent me

outside Luoyang City.

I gave birth to Ji'er there.

Yang Ji?

The year after I gave birth to Ji'er

was my happiest time.

Until one day,

my mother came to visit me and

told me

that she let me give birth to this child,

but she did not allow me

to keep him by my side.

Of course I didn't agree.

I won't leave my

child alone

unless I die.

Mother still doted on me,

so she compromised in the end.

But she told me to think it through.

But you are a princess.

It's indeed troublesome

to have a child before marriage.

No.

Mother told me to think it through，

because she hope

maybe one day

I can be an Empress

like her.

If I carry this child with me,

I will face more doubts.

Empress was using her power

to seduce you.

I was having second thoughts

at that moment.

I sent Ji'er to Serenity Temple

ruthlessly.

From then on,

I would disguise as a civilian

to visit him in the temple each month.

I told Ji'er that

I'm your aunt.

And your mother

went far away.

I will never forget that

he looked at me with longing in his eyes.

I should have

aborted him

instead of abandoning him after his birth.

God punished me

so I lost him

finally.

Lost him?

It was when he was five years old.

Where is Yang Ji?

He was taken away.

He was taken away?

Who took him away?

Where is my Ji'er?

Where is he?

If you can't

find my child,

I'll kill all of you!

The monk said

a scholar

has been studying in the temple.

He taught these children in the temple

when he was free.

Ji'er was disappeared

after the scholar returned to his hometown.

I suspect Ji'er went with him.

I sent people to look for him,

and finally it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

After all that I've said,

the point is Lu Lingfeng.

There's a mole

on Ji'er's left palm.

Lu Lingfeng has one too.

But Lu Lingfeng

was from the Lu family of Fanyang.

He is so proud of it.

Those who took Ji'er away

were from YouYan.

Right.

Fanyang is in Youyan.

Actually, I asked Lu Lingfeng before.

But his age doesn't match.

I suspect

he deliberately concealed his age.

It must be the scholar

who took him away.

He told Lu Lingfeng never to recognize me.

Maybe what your father,

or your uncle, said

was not

entirely true.

What he said to me

is the truth.

My father's name board is

in our family ancestral hall.

Every day, my uncle

takes me to kowtow to my father.

My father never got married

because of me.

He said

I, Lu Lingfeng,

will inherit

all the glory of Fan family.

I will be successful

and bring glory to our family.

How could such a father

lie to me.

What an amazing father.

He changed my age

by two years older

to prevent my enemies from finding me.

He is wise.

I'll visit him

if I have chance to go to Fanyang.

My father

died 5 years ago.

Before he died,

he told me I might see the princess again

one day.

He asked me to promise

that no matter what princess says,

I can not

trust her.

Su Wuming.

What are you thinking?

I'm waiting for your idea.

What idea?

Today, I will recognize Ji'er.

What do you think?

No.

Why?

Since his age doesn't match,

maybe he is not

Yang Ji.

There is a mole on his hand.

It's just a coincidence.

How is that possible?

Mother and son are connected.

That day,

I can clearly feel his heartbeat

when he was carrying me

or maybe holding me.

That's my son's heartbeat!

But Your Highness,

what the Empress said

makes sense.

Although I disagree that

you become the second Empress,

you are after all a princess,

the most powerful woman in Tang.

If you suddenly

have another son,

Think about it.

What will the people think of you?

What will the people think

of the Royal Family?

I don't care.

If Ji'er acknowledges me,

I would rather give up all my power

and not be the princess of Tang.

But you have to think

for Lu Lingfeng.

He has been with me

these days.

I know him very well.

He is brave and resourceful,

versed in both literature and martial arts.

He is a man of tremendous promise.

He has always regarded his origin from The Lu family of Fanyang

as his greatest honor.

If you insist on acknowledging him,

it might cause his death.

In this world,

who dares to kill my son?

Himself.

Have you forgotten

how that scholar Yang Guan

died?

My greetings, Your Highness.

Raise your head.

Did I look ugly

when you saved me

that day?

No.

In life and death,

people will talk nonsense

because of fear.

But I don't remember

what I said.

Lu Lingfeng.

You saved me.

Tell me.

How should I repay you?

Well...

I heard that

you haven't been promoted yet.

How about I reinstate you?

No.

No?

Are you rejecting

my kindness?

No.

I deserve

to be punished

for the mistakes I made back then.

If I get reinstatement because of my merit,

we need a formal official document from the provincial department.

Su Wuming is right.

You're too prideful.

Are you worried

I'll confer you an informal official?

Fine.

I won't interfere with your official.

Anyway, you look down apon of the title I give,

because you work for Crown Prince.

How about...

I give you a marriage?

I heard you and Pei Jian’s daughter...

You don't have to.

Lu Lingfeng is devoted to the country.

I have not considered marriage yet.

You're rejecting my kindness

by refusing me again and again.

Your Highness,

I indeed have a request.

Go ahead.

I have a disciple named Xue Huan,

who has been alone since childhood.

Now he learned some martial arts from me,

but he hasn't studied properly.

I want to send him to the Blessing Temple.

Please allow me.

This is a piece of cake.

I'll ask

the monks of this temple

to take care of him.

Don't you have anything else

to beg me?

No.

Please take care of yourself

and enjoy your leisure.

Master.

Miss.

Sir.

You don't want me anymore?

It's not that.

I hope my disciple Xue Huan

can become a talented scholar.

One day,

you will become a general

like your ancestors.

No!

I want to follow Master.

Miss,

and Mr Su.

You just don't want to follow me,

right?

Let me tell you.

The three of them

will go their separate ways soon.

Who do you want to follow?

Think about it.

Fed.

Don't cry.

Do you know

where I studied

when I was a kid?

When I was 4 years old,

I studied at Serenity Temple in Dongdu

which is called Blessing Temple now.

There are many schools in Blessing Temple.

There are the best teachers

in the world.

This is a rare opportunity.

It's not difficult for you

to learn martial arts.

But it's hard for you

to get knowledge

like Su Wuming.

Can you make achievements

and

become a real man

in the future?

It's up to your choice today.

♫The storm rises with no reason♫

♫In the night of illusions♫

♫I go into the maze♫

♫In a world of prosperity♫

♫A heart burns with obsession♫

♫With the darkness rising♫

♫I can't stop wandering through the night♫

♫With light in my heart, I'm not afraid of the storm♫

♫It's because of justice♫

♫That I seek a truth for this long, lonely night♫

♫The heaven and earth are held together by a strong will♫

♫The people are in peace♫

♫Carving right and wrong into a clear heart♫

♫The truth♫

♫Will reinterpret this justice♫

♫Even if there is fog♫

♫Even if there are invisible waves♫

♫I'll tell the story of the fate♫

♫Tell the love of the world♫

♫For the memory of grace♫

♫And the resentment is not yet over♫

♫The rivers and mountains are immortal, the clouds are overturned♫

♫To be consoled by the truth, even with thorns on my back♫

♫Only for justice♫

♫That I seek a truth for this long, lonely night♫

♫The heaven and earth are held together by a strong will♫

♫The people are in peace♫

♫Carving right and wrong into a clear heart♫

♫The truth♫

♫Will reinterpret this justice♫

♫Even if there are a thousand sails, it's not a waste of time♫

♫What I am afraid of is the unrighted wrong♫

♫What is the meaning of life and death?♫

♫I'll paint the sunshine into the landscape♫

♫The spirit of righteousness♫

♫Exists for the one I care♫