Original subtitles

Official Liu, they're here.

I'm Liu Guo-sheng. Good day, Master Eunuch Gui.

Please, stand.

Thank you, Master Eunuch.

Official Liu, you are the Queen's brother and I am just a eunuch.

I'm quite surprised that you don't mind

putting your status to one side in order to accommodate me.

Master Eunuch, you are well respected.

Every official in the Royal Court would love to have you as an ally.

I will very much appreciate your assistance from this point forward.

Are you sure about that?

Very.

Official Liu.

Master Eunuch.

QIU SHUI LIBRARY

I am honoured that you would visit my humble home.

How could I turn down such a warm invitation?

Thank you, Master Eunuch.

Allow me to drink to you.

To your longevity and good fortune.

Please.

Wait. Come here.

Why are you here?

I'm Yuan Wu. I have a seafood dish for the Master Eunuch.

Wait here.

Yes.

Yuan Wu has a seafood dish for the Master Eunuch.

This is the great chef you mentioned earlier?

Yes.

Please sit down. Send him in.

Yes. Bring in Yuan Wu.

Yes.

Go on.

Yes.

Master Eunuch, I hope you will enjoy this.

Bring it up here.

Yes.

Stop.

Zi-cong, arrest them all!

Don't let any of them escape!

Yes!

Stand back.

I want to test how good a combatant he really is!

He has the nerve to try to assassinate me!

Your Majesty.

De-hai, you're back. I hope it wasn't too tiring.

Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.

Do you remember this?

- This... this... - I believe this belongs to you.

How did it end up in the hands of an assassin?

I have no idea.

Bring in the wine.

Yes.

This is the seasoned wine I brought for you from the Liu residence.

Drink it.

Are you trying to poison me?

I would say that is fair after what you tried to do to me.

I hope Your Majesty will soon ascend into the Heavens.

- No...! - I knew that you did not favour me.

But after you drink this, you'll never see me again.

De-hai, I've always treated you well. Spare my life.

Now you're begging me?

Why didn't you think of that before you sent the assassin?

I honestly don't know.

You must drink this.

Stop this insult! I sent the assassin.

His Majesty knew nothing of it.

If you need to blame someone, then you should blame me.

Blame you? How?

Gui De-hai, who do you think you're talking to?

His Majesty has always treated you well.

Not wanting to return the favour is one thing...

But plotting a rebellion with the other traitors?

Do you know the gravity of the crime you have committed?

What are you trying to do?

What did you say about me?

I said that you are plotting a rebellion with the others.

- Mother! Mother! - De-hai, spare her life.

You traitor.

You're so ungrateful!

- Mother! Mother! - My concubine! Gui De-hai, you...!

Mother!

You killed my mother!

My dear son!

You killed my mother!

Don't tell anyone what happened here today.

All of you will be awarded 100 taels of gold,

and I will promote you all three times over.

You're either my friends or my enemies.

That's your choice.

We're willing to take your orders, Master Eunuch.

So? I think you had better drink the wine now.

You have no conscience. The gods will punish you.

I won't let you torture me.

Master Eunuch, Prince Jin is studying now.

We'll get them all. Kill him!

Yes!

Help! Someone took my baby!

Please! You must stop him!

Someone took my baby!

Please! Stop him!

Give my child back!

Halt!

Halt!

Give my child back!

Don't run!

Halt!

Where's the Prince?

He was here.

Where is he now?

An old man snatched a woman's baby.

The prince has gone chasing after him.

Follow me!

Let's go!

Go!

What are you staring at me for?

You think getting to sit in a sedan chair is a big deal?

Your grandpa almost got a cramp from all that running!

Do you have any idea about how much trouble you're in?

And you're trying to help others!

You silly child.

Come with me!

Come on!

Brother-in-Iaw, please tell him.

What's there to tell?

He's not a bull, he understands.

I'm sorry, I'm just a young prince.

Please forgive me, old master.

He still thinks he is a prince.

Go!

Old beggar! I hear you snatched someone's baby?

Search the area!

Wait! This is my home.

What? Your home?

Well, is it yours?

Go!

Step back!

So, you want to join in on the fun too?

You old beggar! Just wait and see!

Let's go!

You bumped into a martial arts expert, that's not your fault.

Prince Jin must be with him.

Who's the old man?

Old Man Gong-sun. He wields a green bamboo stick.

Him?

The one known as the "Old Man of the Bamboo Forest"?

Why would he get involved in this matter?

We should have killed them all.

Gather more men and split up. Try to track them down.

You must bring Prince Jin back.

Yes!

Hang on! If you can't fight him then you must outwit him.

We understand.

Go on.

Yes.

Official Wang.

Master Eunuch.

What has happened in this Court is not yet known to outsiders.

I decree that Concubine Cao's son will succeed to the throne.

I need your help and support to make the arrangements.

That is my job and I will make sure of it, Master Eunuch.

Your tears won't drown your enemy.

Don't waste anymore of your youth on crying.

See? This is why I don't meddle in other people's business.

He's very kind.

If he wasn't, do you think I would have helped him?

Well, if that is the case then you must help him until the end.

Master, please take me as your student.

That's a good idea.

Master, let me bow to you.

Alright! That's enough.

The evil eunuch won't let you get away! You must hurry!

Let's go and ask.

Waite r.

Yes, sir?

Tell me...

Have you seen an old man with a green bamboo stick?

He is with a man and a woman.

The woman's carrying a baby.

Come on! Speak up!

Yes, they ate here.

And they went in that direction.

Go!

Go!

The money is on the table.

I think we should find a place to stay before it gets dark.

What do you think? Let's go!

Welcome! You want a room? Do you have any livestock?

None.

Wait.

Please.

What do you think?

We'll take it. Is the room next door taken?

No.

Then we'll take that one too.

Certainly, please wait here.

I'll go and get a light.

Which one of you is staying in the room next door?

Just leave us the light.

Get us some tea, please.

Right away.

Just call me if you need anything.

We will. Go on.

Be careful. You, follow me.

Shut the door.

The baby's missing!

Halt!

Old master, it's been a while.

Where's the baby?

Open the door.

Yes.

There's no rush. Are you prepared to fight?

Old master, also known as the "Old Man of the Bamboo Forest,"

why would you get involved with matters of the Court?

Get to the point!

Hand Zhu Jin over to us.

And what ifl don't?

Old master, why sacrifice your granddaughter for one you don't know?

I'll go with you. Let the baby go.

Bring her out.

Please.

Thank you for all of your help, master.

I hope that I have a chance to repay you in the next life.

Give the baby back.

Wait! Get inside the cart first.

If I've done anything to offend you, old master, then please forgive me.

Wu Chun.

If they move one more step, it's over for you.

Don't move!

Tell them to back away.

Back away! Back away!

- Tell them to take 10 more steps. - Yes... yes... step back!

Go!

You bunch of fools! I don't want to hurt anyone.

But I'm not afraid of you! Now get out of here!

What a disgrace!

Master Eunuch, I have a plan.

Tell me.

Everyone knows that Prince Jin is a dutiful and loving son.

Why don't you use that fact to your own advantage?

Announce to all that he killed himself as his father's grave.

Tell everyone that he's dead.

Not bad.

Then everything would be much easier for you.

There is nothing to be gained from the belief that he lives.

Alright! Get to it then.

Yes.

Your Highness, I bring important news.

Speak!

There's an old man outside who claims he is Ma Liang-bo.

He'd like to see you.

He brought a keepsake. Please, take a look at it.

Bring him inside and tell him to wait.

Yes.

Please, wait here.

Yes, thank you.

Son! It's really you!

I've been looking for you for over a decade.

What? You changed your name and became an eunuch?

Now that you're a eunuch, what will Yue-Xian do now?

Two decades ago, you made a mistake. And then you left, just like that.

But Yue-Xian was pregnant.

What? She was?

Our people consider a mute, unmarried young woman

falling pregnant to be extremely shameful.

They wanted to kill her.

I risked my life to help her escape.

Where are they now?

I took them to Tiger's Head Mountain.

I built a shack at the bottom of the mountain.

We've been living there since.

Yan-yan has grown into a pretty young woman now.

She keeps asking for her father and hopes to meet him.

Who would have thought it? Her father is now a eunuch.

ReaHy?

You don't believe me?

You think that I'm here to scam you because you have money and status?

I have to be sure.

Yue-Xian bore you a child and she raised her.

She has suffered for 20 years and if you have a heart

then you ought to pay her a visit.

Why did you do that?

You know my secret, so you must die.

You hurt Yue-Xian and now you're murdering me.

You...!

Come here.

Master Eunuch.

You four, get changed and head to the bottom of Tiger's Head Mountain.

Kill Yan-yan and her mother!

Yes.

Mother, have some medicine.

Are you feeling better?

You want to know whether grandpa has returned?

He'll be back soon.

It would be great if grandpa found my father.

Don't be sad, mother.

I'm sure that grandpa will come home with my father.

Did my father leave you with this?

No, you're really sick.

I can't leave you like this.

That must be grandpa.

Are you Yan-yan?

Yes, who are you?

Where's your mother?

My mother's sick. She's lying in her bed.

Go!

What are you doing?

Who are you?

How could you hurt a young woman?

You damned old hag! Mind your own business!

Old hag? You're very rude!

I'll show you what an old hag can do!

Mother...!

Mother...!

Mother...!

Mother...!

Young lady, don't be upset.

Old Iady...!

What's so funny? He's only practising martial arts.

Did it hurt?

- No... - Get up, then.

Grandma is back!

Grandma, let me help you!

Good boy.

Auntie, why didn't you stay in the nunnery for longer?

Why are you home so soon?

And this is...?

My student.

Oh? Interesting. So, you have a student too.

What? If you have a student then so can I.

Can you give it a rest?

What? What are you talking about?

Agreed.

Let's eat.

Eat up.

Eat up.

Mother, what's the matter?

Master Eunuch.

I thank you for what you've done. Please, stand.

Thank you, Master Eunuch.

What orders does the Ninth Prince have?

Someone has been spreading a rumour in the capital

that Prince Jin is still alive.

The Ninth Prince asked me about it.

What was your answer?

I said that I am certain he's dead.

The Ninth Prince agreed and said that

I should report this to you.

Master Eunuch.

Is there news?

The old master with the green bamboo was spotted in Xiangyang.

But we're not sure where he is living.

When we find him, we'll find Zhu Jin.

I have to go there myself.

Old man.

What?

Where did you learn that?

Why don't I know it?

- That... that... - Get up.

Tell me.

It's my best kept secret. I can't tell you.

Will you tell me or not?

Very well, very well...

It's called the "Wandering Souls Style."

Brother Jin, are you alright?

Let me help you over there.

Don't move, let me look at it.

You're terrible.

Yan-yan.

Your martial arts practise has made you even more beautiful.

My martial arts skills are not as advanced as yours.

Brother Jin, you work really hard.

You're still thinking about your revenge?

But who's your enemy?

Why won't you tell me?

Yan-yan, I know you're trying to help.

I'll tell you on the day I get my revenge.

Does your enemy excel in martial arts?

Firstly, I will help you to find your grandpa and your father.

Then I will have my revenge.

Jin.

Yan-yan... I am not sure why...

But when I think about your family and your upbringing,

I feel very sorry for what you and your mother went through.

You're right. I think my father must be a heartless man.

Even putting aside the fact that my mother was a mute,

they should never have had me.

You've never met him?

He left when my mother fell pregnant.

We have heard nothing of him in the years since.

Could he have been in an accident?

That's possible.

But I couldn't forgive him for turning his back on his wife.

I hope it will work out. Let's talk about it later.

Come on, we need to buy some tobacco for your master.

Wait here with the horses.

Master Eunuch.

Go!

Wait!

That evil eunuch got hit by your flying dagger?

Yes.

Come on, stop laughing even if you don't believe him.

What kind of a person is this evil eunuch?

That would be too easy.

Wu Chun, you two take the kids and hide somewhere.

Old woman, pack up and leave!

THERE'S NOBODY HERE. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.

Welcome.

They're gone!

It's our fault. We deserve to die.

Who warned them?

We wondered that too.

Could the old man be a coward?

Zi-cong.

I am here.

Put the word out that I will be out in public tomorrow.

Master, come look!

Come on!

Take a look, old man!

You were right!

Damn! I hit someone else.

It looks like this evil eunuch is a tricky one.

How so?

If he's alive then I would expect him to be

making funeral arrangements in order to lure Zhu Jin out.

What he's doing now is a strange diversion designed to confuse us.

The old man is right and I'm sure they'll soon

return to the palace to make funeral arrangements

before anything else happens.

Zhu Jin.

Master.

Go back to the palace, but be careful.

Master, you were dragged into this because of me.

I can't just leave you in the middle of this.

You must seize the chance to go while you can. Go!

Where should we meet, master?

Leopard Alley in Wuchang.

Old woman, let Yan-yan go with him.

It's safer if he has her with him.

Alright. Yan-yan, go with Jin.

Master...

It's time to say goodbye.

I hope that you find your father. Then I will be happy, too.

Jin, you must always have a back-up plan.

You must not be rash.

Yes, master.

Yan-yan, what are you thinking?

I'm wondering where my grandpa is now.

I don't know if he has found my father.

Don't worry. After I've taken care of this,

I'II help you to find your father.

It's dark now. I'm going to the palace to take a look.

Wait for me here.

I'll go with you.

I'm familiar with the palace.

You would just slow me down if you came with me.

Please, stay here and wait.

I wonder what's happening in the palace.

Search the place!

No one!

Leave four guards here. The rest, come with me.

- Go! - Yes!

Master Eunuch.

Is there an assassin here?

Yes.

Master Eunuch, she had this.

Bring her in.

Yes.

Leave us.

Yes.

Where did you get this?

How do you know about it?

Has your mother's health improved?

Who told you about that?

Your grandpa.

My grandpa? You know him?

Who are you?

Me? I'm your father.

You're my father?

Take a closer look.

Your grandpa gave this to me.

Your mother's name is Yue-Xian, right?

Father...

Father, why didn't you come back and visit us?

It was terrible when my mother died.

We have been reunited, you should be happy.

Don't cry, my child.

Father, where is grandpa?

He fell ”I when he arrived.

I sent for the best doctors, but nothing could help him.

What happened?

He died.

My mother left me and now so has grandpa.

What am I going to do?

Father!

Don't be upset, your father's here.

Yan-yan...!

Yan-yan...!

I won't stop you from leaving.

Eat something and then I'll ask someone to accompany you.

No, there's no need.

You don't believe me?

If you're so nice to him then why would he say you're his enemy?

Father, did you really kill his parents?

What did I tell you? I never got a chance

to repay the late Emperor for his kindness to me.

Why would I hurt him? It's just a misunderstanding.

Please, try to explain that to Jin on my behalf.

If that's the truth, I will explain it to him.

All I have done is try to protect his throne.

I have been looking all over the land for him these past years.

Who would have thought that he would take me for his father's killer?

I was just trying to help.

Don't be upset, father.

If there is no legitimate grudge between you,

then the matter is as good as resolved already.

- Ijust worry... - About what?

I worry that this young prince is an impostor.

You're saying that Zhu Jin is not the prince?

Some people would do anything to obtain fame and fortune.

But why try to pose as a prince?

He wouldn't.

You trust him?

He wouldn't lie to me.

It's an evil world, you don't know what people are capable of.

Don't be so trusting.

But we could test him.

The Emperor's hair is inside this box.

Tell him to open it and take a look.

If he recognises it, then he is who he says he is.

If not?

Then you figure out what to do.

Remember, no one is to open this before Zhu Jin.

Why?

That is the rule of the Court.

If anyone were to try then they would be betraying the Emperor, okay?

Yes.

I'm going to report this. You stay here.

Jin...!

Where were you?

I went looking for you.

Looking for me?

You're very brave.

I came back, didn't I?

Jin?

I did it for you.

Yan-yan...?

Jin, I want to ask you to do something.

What?

Open this box and take a look inside.

And answer a question.

Sure.

Jin! Jin!

Jin! I'm sorry!

It's all my fault!

Water...!

I need water...!

What do you want?

I want to make sure he's dead.

I see.

Water...!

Jin...!

Jin...!

- Jin... - Yan-yan...

It's my fault! I deserve to die.

Who could have predicted that I would get better after drinking that water?

Yan-yan, I'm fine. Why are you so angry?

I couldn't imagine that I would have such a father.

Jin, what am I going to do?

It's not my place to say.

But I hope you won't get involved in this.

No! I must protect you.

Forgive me, Yan-yan.

Until I am dead, I must have my revenge.

Don't you know how I feel about you?

I do.

Master Eunuch, we await your instructions.

Begin.

Yes.

Fellow heroes, Master Eunuch Gui is here to select military officials

by the order of His Highness. The challenge will now begin.

Please showcase your finest skills for the Master Eunuch.

Who would like to challenge me?

Iwill.

Anyone else?

Yes.

Please take off your hat.

Stop!

Thank you for the lesson, lady.

Zi-cong.

Yes.

Back away.

Yes.

Lady, that's enough. Come with me.

You want me to go with you? Who do you think you are?

Wait. I have something to say.

Ye Zi-cong. Fellow officials.

I know that you are here due to Gui De-hai's coercion.

You didn't wish to join his coup.

Today, I'm here to kill this traitor.

He's the one I'm after.

It's your choice as to whether you want to get in my way.

Gui De-hai, this is the day you die.

You want to die? Leave!

Bravo!

Master!

You're already the Master Eunuch, what more do you want?

I advise you to stay alive.

Visit the temples. Pray for your next life.

You say you're a hermit, yet you poke your nose

into other people's business. Isn't that a funny joke?

I was being sincere!

Old woman, Gui De-hai is vicious.

But when it comes to a fight, he's fair — one on one.

AII masters should be like that.

Yes, this should be quite entertaining.

Student, continue.

You want to be the referee?

Of course! He seems quite confident.

I am getting really embarrassed now.

Master!

A hero must die in glory.

Confinue.

Fool, why don't you use the "Wandering Spirit Style" I taught you?

Go!

Yan-yan! You...!

- I can't let you kill him. - I must kill him!

Jin!

Yan-yan...!

Jin...

Yan-yan...