Original subtitles

Two streets away is your sister's courtyard.

I know.

All these years,

your junior sister has acted as a messenger.

Every now and then, I could tell how she was doing.

Don't sniff the tree, or it'll go bald.

Bai Wan!

This is the second this year.

I need you to make another sudden trip.

So you've kept writing to him all these years

just because you want to know every year that he's safe?

Yes…

and no.

Seeing how he's all by himself, he does seem a bit pitiful.

I have been writing for so many years

because I want him to know someone out there is thinking of him.

Now you're on your own too, living all alone in Chang'an,

and I care about you as well.

You have to let me know that you are safe every single day.

I'm not made of porcelain.

I'm not that easy to crack or bruise.

Better safe than sorry.

How about this?

If you ever run into danger,

you can let a paper kite fly.

I have plenty of eyes and ears in the city.

They will tell me right away.

I almost got him.

I chased him to Yanzuo Ward,

but Qingyi showed up and pulled him out.

He slipped into Hidden Soldier Alley.

When the Huben Army was first established,

my father secretly set up Hidden Soldier Alley.

There are hidden bases in Chang'an.

Inside them are enough food and weaponry.

If they ever need to retreat,

there are craftsmen assigned to make travel passes for the Huben Army.

Where is it? I can go in.

No need to rush.

He is inside. He won't come out just yet.

My goal is to wipe out

the entire Huben Army centered around Yan Fengshan.

There is no intel confirming that Yan Fengshan is in Hidden Soldier Alley,

so sending troops is pointless.

It would only alert them.

Stop.

You may not know me, but you should at least know him.

OLD WOMAN GATEKEEPER OF HIDDEN SOLDIER ALLEY

I know you two.

But the general set the rules.

Anyone entering or leaving Hidden Soldier Alley

has to leave gold behind.

Hurry up.

Wait.

I bought you some pinellia and poria.

Boil them and drink the decoction every day. It helps your throat.

Go.

Ziyan, this way.

Ziyan.

Who on earth injured you so badly?

A man who was already supposed to be dead.

Pu Nichuan.

But last night,

he was dead for good.

Whoever is behind all this is really something.

Even a discarded pawn of the Huben Army was put to use.

The one behind this is someone you probably know too.

My brother's son, Liu Zhi.

He's all grown up.

He probably came back to avenge his father.

Ziyan.

I don't come here very often.

Stay here and take your medicine. Rest and recover.

Once I bring a physician back,

you can stay here and focus on recovering.

Once your wounds mend, you can go wherever you want.

Leave on your own whenever you like.

You only need to show up when General Fengshan summons you again.

Since when did you

start arranging my affairs?

You're overthinking it, Ziyan.

What I'm saying is, just focus on getting better.

As for the rest, leave it to me.

That brat ran off with the deposed emperor.

General Fengshan sent word.

He must live.

If he dies,

the deposed emperor's whereabouts will vanish.

It'll ruin General Fengshan's grand plan.

It won't be that easy.

The people around him aren't simpletons either.

TRAVEL PASS

Someone close to him

is already in my control.

The Liu bloodline isn't so easy to deal with.

Ziyan,

when it comes to killing,

I'm nothing compared to you.

But when it comes to scheming,

you may not match me.

You're back.

- I'm back. - Here.

Alright.

IRON

The General's letter.

Choose the most alert person to deliver it.

Yes.

- Be quick. - Understood.

This is what happens when you oppose me.

From now on,

I am willing to be a slave or a mutt.

Back at the Grand Academy,

every time the teacher scolded you, you would copy the Shanglin Ode

so your heart could feel a little lighter.

After all these years,

you haven't made any progress.

You shouldn't have used your own handwriting.

If someone sharp notices it,

we'll be targeted.

And Mo is my pageboy.

A pageboy doesn't need to write things like this.

Then…

what should I write?

You should write a letter home.

Say the business in the Capital is improving,

and you'll return after some time.

As for him and his family,

I'll tell you what to say.

Mo is my pageboy.

He grew up with me.

We studied in the clan school together.

His handwriting

carries the brushstroke style of my family.

Remember this well.

From now on,

whenever you write a turning stroke,

slow your brush at the finish.

His wife is called Yanniang.

She's a fisherwoman.

Kind-hearted.

A wonderful cook.

Yanniang gave him two children.

A boy who's 6, named Xiaoman.

A girl who's 4, named Chudong.

You two, slow down.

Mo is gentle by nature.

He knows what I'm thinking.

He said he wanted to do his part.

And I agreed.

But it's all my fault.

Right now,

he should be on his way home.

He would've reached home by the end of the month.

His family lives by a small hill outside Huzhou.

Three little rooms.

A modest patch of farmland.

- Dinner's ready! - Coming!

It's enough to provide for the whole family.

He could've lived out his life safe and sound.

Mother, we get to eat eggs today!

But you ruined everything.

Mo…

Where is he buried?

You don't deserve to know.

If you sit here any longer without a word,

the neighbor lady is going to come out with a stick.

Alright. I'm coming down.

So pretty.

What fabric is this?

Don't touch it. I'm rushing to finish this.

If you get it dirty, they'll dock my pay.

Alright. I won't touch it. I won't touch it.

ZHAOLU

Is staring at me supposed to cook the rice?

It is.

I'll cook it.

Come and eat.

Here.

- It really is cooked. - Liu Ziyan is back.

Don't worry.

He calls himself the Huben Army's top assassin.

But he's nothing special in my eyes.

I crossed blades with him last night.

I struck him three times.

Chest, back, left shoulder.

I almost took his head off.

Too bad… the brat still escaped.

And you?

Not a scratch on me.

Why is your clothing torn?

When did my clothes get torn?

- Let me see your wound. - No.

Men and women should…

Let's eat first.

Consider the silver I paid you earlier

a payment for those three strikes last night.

Alright?

From now on,

you don't have to risk your life anymore to avenge me against Liu Ziyan.

Why not?

I earn only 100 wen for a wedding quilt,

and 50 wen for a wedding outfit.

Even if I sew for ten more years,

I still wouldn't be able to afford your service.

I don't want money.

I don't want money.

Stay away!

Why do you keep following me?

Are you good at killing people?

As you saw. Yes.

I began sewing to survive when I was 14.

This is all I've saved these past five years.

This is the man's portrait.

I want you to kill him.

Why do you want him dead?

My mother was a seamstress.

Every time she finished a garment,

she'd deliver it to the client's residence.

That winter solstice,

she braved the snow and brought a newly finished cloak

to Liu Ziyan's residence.

But Liu Ziyan accused her of being a spy who eavesdropped for secrets.

Liu Ziyan hung my mother right at our doorstep.

When she died, even her kneecaps were carved out.

This is the deposit. I'll make up the rest someday.

I don't kill for money.

A deposit, though…

Give me a smile first.

What you just said…

were you feeling sorry for me?

I was worried about you.

What's there to worry about?

I made you a promise, so I'll get it done.

Also, from now on, don't bring up the money again.

You've already paid.

Fresh vegetables!

Come take a look!

Crisp and tender greens!

Come look!

- Come take a look. - Fresh greens today.

I picked them this morning.

- Come look. - I'll take one.

Take care, miss.

Very nice.

- These are handwoven by us. - This one.

- This looks good. - It suits you.

- Alright. - The silver one is nice.

I'll take that one then.

Miss, want to look at kites?

- How much is this? - Two wen.

- Here. - Thank you.

Pick some more.

They're very fresh.

If you ever run into danger, you can let a paper kite fly.

I have plenty of eyes and ears in the city.

They will tell me right away.

Thank you.

Sesame oil.

It flies really high.

Come take a look.

- Sesame oil. - This one.

- I'll take one. - Alright.

Pears!

Xiaoqing, why aren't you…

I'm never buying pears from you again.

This girl… What's gotten into her today?

Thank you, miss.

Take care. Come again next time.

Rain capes! Selling rain capes!

Rain capes!

- Go over there. - Yes.

Go.

You're sharp.

You could tell those men outside were mine.

Has no one ever told you

you don't need to act so high and mighty all the time?

You know, I grew up without parents.

I was raised being beaten in an opera troupe.

My masters told me when you live in this world,

every movement onstage,

every frown and smile is something people have to watch.

If anyone found it displeasing,

my masters would beat me.

So I've had to watch myself every moment of every day.

Regardless of whom I'm performing for.

The kite flew away.

Which means you're not leaving.

The night Mr. Yu died,

you didn't even give me two hours.

Why would you give me two days?

You're worthless.

But the person you were writing to has value of his own.

I was only bait.

I saw that. What are your hands doing?

Split this bundle, then split the next two days' worth.

I'll check before dark.

Assassin! There's an assassin!

Where?

The assassin you're talking about is her?

What are you yelling for? Get back to work.

Why are you here? What's the rush?

What happened?

It's Bai Wan. Something happened to her.

The Huben Army.

Xiaoqing was followed on her way back.

They surrounded the courtyard.

Wait.

Is there a secret tunnel or a hidden room?

No.

They brought many men.

The only ones here who can fight are Xiaoqing and me.

I caused this mess. I'll deal with it.

Fire. Burn the walls first.

I can't get out. And no one is coming to save me.

To you, I'm useless.

Stop wasting time.

How is it a waste?

Maybe you don't know this yet.

The person you were writing to is already back in Chang'an.

And what you definitely don't know

is that your little messenger was still being watched,

even if you two had your little tricks.

All it takes is one trip to where he lives.

Once she does that,

his location

is exposed.

- Don't let a single one escape! - Yes.

I'm going to save her. Break through, then go find Mr. Long.

Stay alive.

Wherever you go, write to me.

Let me know you're safe every year.

YOUNG BAI WAN

I only want to know that he's safe every year.

So all these years, I've kept writing to him.

Seeing him all alone, he seemed a little pitiful.

All these years of writing,

I only wanted him to know that someone is thinking of him.

Still alive, I see.

Go!

Go.