Original subtitles

The Huben Army's ambush

caused Chang'an to fall.

The Emperor, Xiao Wuyang, was attacked

and went missing.

Yan Fengshan rules Chang'an once again.

Master, is this the only way out of the city?

Yes.

A few thousand people were mobilized from Hidden Soldier Alley.

They mainly handle court secrets and the city gates.

The canal is remote so there is still a chance.

People say that Your Majesty

is kind in heart yet lacking in talent.

You ascended the throne only to govern in mediocrity.

You brought war back upon the land and left the common people in misery.

They also added that, in the end, you had let your ancestors down

and perished in disgrace.

But I beg to differ.

I have heard that under Your Majesty's leadership,

you granted the people time to recover

and returned the troops to their barracks.

You reshaped customs

and brought prosperity to all.

The elderly had someone to rely on

and the children had someone to raise them.

Though your reign

lacked both the fierce valor of your late father

and the martial might of the Marquis of Northguard,

you held compassion for the common folk,

and cared for the livelihood of the poor.

With such devotion to the state and its people,

you are not at fault.

They called you a scoundrel

whose disorderly governance

caused the northern army to rise and seize the throne by force.

The court cowered in trepidation and the martial world grew disheartened.

Fear stirred resentment

and bitterness took root against Your Majesty.

While Your Majesty might have lost your throne

and is wandering the world aimlessly,

your devotion shouldn't be confined only to the palace walls.

Even far from the center of power,

you may still accomplish much.

In this life,

I fear I will have no chance to see Your Majesty again.

I pray only that Your Majesty

does not forget your first intent…

FROM HAN ZILING

…for one day it will be heard somewhere in the world.

So your name was Han Ziling.

For some reason,

the gates of the Imperial Jail are open.

I guess

White Hair has fulfilled his promise.

You've been sitting for a few decades.

You can finally stand up now.

I no longer have the right to sit.

To save you,

I hid the fact

that White Hair was in Hidden Soldier Alley.

This is unfair

to the Huben Army.

To protect myself,

I even gave away the Huben Army's gold coin.

This is also a form of betrayal.

Mother,

like mother, like son indeed.

Right now,

the Huben Army

no longer has anything to do with me.

I think

I should leave.

I should have

left sooner.

ONE MONTH LATER

Hot lamb soup!

- Come inside. - Come in.

- Yes. - Two?

- Sir, sit down. - It's fresh.

- More vegetables. - It's delicious.

- Sure. - It's so fresh.

Give me some.

Here.

Sure. Let me pack it for you.

- Who are you? - It's me.

Don't you remember me?

‪HOUSE SAUCES

Little runt, right?

You are a little runt.

Indeed.

I don't know who my parents are.

Perhaps I'm someone no one wants.

Come and have a look.

I was just kidding.

Give me two jin of pork shoulder.

My mother's making stuffed flatbread tonight.

Oh, it's you.

Why not get some?

I'm sorry. I can't help you this time.

Why?

Didn't you go to the butcher's shop to chop some meat for me last time?

That was the last time. This time, it's different.

How so?

I'm different.

You still look the same.

Did you commit a crime?

A huge crime.

Then, can you still go home and eat?

I guess.

However, I'm different.

I have to earn

my own meal.

That is why it's so meaningful.

General, dinner is ready.

Let's wait for Wang Pu.

He has gone to the market.

He'll be slow with shackles on his feet.

You may go back first.

One more thing.

Secret envoys of Tiemo have departed.

Yang Chuhao is in charge of taking care of them.

The Tiemo people are coming.

White Hair should also be appearing soon.

He won't let go of this opportunity.

Tell Yang Chuhao's men to keep a close eye on it.

Yes.

Why hasn't Wang Pu come back?

I'll go and pick him up from the market.

You spoil him, General.

I captured Chang'an

but I didn't sit on the throne at Taiqing Hall.

I moved to the market instead.

But eating alone makes me feel lonely.

I'm closing up.

- The radish is nice. - Do you have something larger?

- They are different. - That's great.

Very good.

- I'll take two. - Sure.

Give me a discount.

I want more.

- General. - General.

- General. - General.

Keep drinking.

All of you may leave.

I have something to say to Mr. Wang Pu.

- Yes. - Yes.

When you're upset,

drinking makes you inebriated faster.

I dare not act recklessly before you.

You've acted recklessly many times.

Zhiying cooks for us every day.

She never complains,

yet you will not accept her kindness.

I'm not refusing her kindness.

I feel too guilty to eat.

Do you feel no guilt

eating meat and drinking wine in this eatery, then?

Back in Hidden Soldier Alley, I gave him plenty of favors.

Of course, I don't feel guilty.

On the contrary,

I failed to solve your problem

and nearly cost you your life.

I feel guilty.

You won't win against White Hair.

I might not even be able to do it either.

Zhiying said I spoiled you.

I don't treat you like a general treats his subordinates.

However, you served me since you were young.

I've never regarded you as my subordinate.

If a subordinate makes a mistake

and I kill him,

many more people are available to obey my command.

When you make a mistake

and don't come home to eat,

I come out to find you.

I endure the night breeze,

as though looking for my own child.

It's time to go back.

- You're paying for real? - Of course.

I won't kill you just because you charged me.

Look.

The reward is quite high.

I know, right?

Have you seen this man?

If I'd seen him, I would've…

Let's go.

WARRANT

It does not resemble him.

Master, I'm back.

It's time to go back.

It's going to rain soon.

We're going back when I just arrived?

Let's rest for a while longer.

The air is good here,

unlike the gloomy and depressing Cangshui River.

It's stuffy there.

Master,

what is the tale behind Cangshui River?

I've been keeping watch from inside for a few days.

And I noticed some suspicious people.

You are always keeping an eye on others.

They will think you are the suspicious one too.

I have to do that.

You know who I'm protecting.

Huai'an's father, Liu Ziwen,

is a rare talent.

He spent his whole life

protecting Chang'an.

Hidden Soldier Alley is the last line of defense.

When it fails and Chang'an falls,

the people and the government

have to move to Cangshui River.

Unfortunately, before Cangshui River was built,

he was killed.

Does Yan Fengshan know about this place?

Or is there anyone in the Huben Army who knows about this?

I am the manager of Cangshui River.

Do you think I'm foolish enough

to let Yan Fengshan and the others know about it?

I know you are the manager.

Aren't we just having a friendly chat?

Moreover,

looking at you now, you are just a boatman at most.

I manage everything from this boat.

You can only reach Cangshui River

on this boat using this river.

Cangshui River only houses refugees now.

All of them have their lips sealed.

No need to be wary of them.

All right.

With you as the manager,

I'm relieved.

I'm leaving.

Take care. Go on.

Just leave it here.

Yes.

- Give it to me. - No.

- Your salary. - It's my turn.

- Pile them up. - Just hold it.

- How many doses of this? - Weigh your herbs first.

Slow down.

Sir!

I'm done moving the goods.

You've worked hard.

Young men are indeed strong.

With you around,

I can take it easy.

Sir,

have you noticed

someone looking at the shop all the time?

They are just staring from right outside the shop.

Although they don't stand there for long,

do you think

there's something in this shop that attracts attention?

Young man,

how long have you been working here?

I've been here for quite some time.

I was working in other shops

and you were hiring.

I came here because you paid more.

You are lying.

I…

I'm not lying.

It's all right.

Everyone who comes here is a person in misfortune.

Everyone has it tough.

It's normal to keep everything to yourself.

I'm sure that you just arrived at Cangshui River.

Why don't you tell me

what time it is now?

They are here

to look at this.

Okay.

Along the streets,

there are many of these.

I wonder which smart guy invented this.

Anyway, when I acquired this shop,

it was already here.

That's right.

From tomorrow onward,

you must scoop up the salt that leaks out

and pour it back in.

But I still need to move the goods.

Not anymore. Just watch the shop for me.

Really?

Tomorrow.

Sure!

My back is sore from moving the goods every day.

My shoulders are sore.

You seem too delicate.

You must once have been of noble birth.

But I don't have a noble's fate.

I was just a pageboy.

A pageboy?

I'll get it again when I finish it.

Take a look.

Here you go.

Look at my chicken.

- How many doses… - Give me a discount…

- …a day? - …sir.

Weigh your medicine first.

This is far too dear.

You're back?

How's your brother?

Just like that.

I worked many jobs

and I still can't make a lot of money.

This is tough.

A few days in and you're already complaining.

Listen.

This is life.

Life?

Life also demands…

That's right. Starting tomorrow,

I'll be taking care of the salt shop.

Someone needs to move the goods.

If you go there,

we'll have two people

working two jobs and earning two salaries.

Good idea.

Working two jobs and earning two salaries.

We may even afford wine.

As expected of you.

No, thanks.

Who was the one who said

this was life just now?

I said that was your life.

I don't like your job

and you can't do my job.

I wonder how Huai'an is doing now.

XUANDU TEMPLE

If you hadn't been transferred out of Chang'an,

we wouldn't have this opportunity to have tea so casually.

Yet coming here

only fills me with disappointment.

You've been in Chang'an for so many years.

Don't you have any other ways?

Ways?

After Yan Fengshan captured Chang'an,

the whole situation changed.

What ways do I have?

‪AWAKEN TO THE TRUE WAY

But I heard nothing has changed in the imperial court.

General Fengshan doesn't even enter Taiqing Hall.

He even brought someone from the Xiao imperial family

to be the Emperor

to preserve the legitimacy of the Xiao dynasty.

Do you really think that the young emperor

is from the Xiao family?

Whether I believe in it or not isn't important.

The important thing

is when you can be transferred back to Chang'an.

I'll be honest with you.

On the surface,

I was only an Imperial Guard.

In truth,

I was actually serving Chancellor Gao.

Now, Chancellor Gao is doing worse than I am.

What makes you think I can make a comeback again?

Nothing is absolute in life.

It's full of ups and downs.

Don't dwell on it.

When your next wave of fortune comes,

you might even go to further heights.

If your temple had more devotees,

I might believe you a little more.

Look at it now.

It sees more flies than devotees.

It's not a popular area.

It's not a popular area.

Enough.

Just stay here.

When I come here tomorrow,

I'll get another cup of tea.

- Take care. - Farewell.

XUANDU TEMPLE

LIVE BY NATURE'S WAY

Zeng, the wind rises.

Remember to sleep with an extra blanket.

Yes.

It's getting windy.

No need to worry about me.

I can protect myself.

Thank you for guarding the temple.

I was able to go home for a few nights.

If you need anything, just tell me.

Don't stand on ceremony.

Thank you for taking me in.

You will be blessed for your kindness.

XUANDU TEMPLE

You're here.

It has been a long time.

However, this move is too dangerous.

Last time,

we lost badly.

A visitor this late at night?

An acquaintance came to visit.

We exchanged a few words.

I see.

I've returned to retrieve some lamp oil.

Has your friend left?

He has.

He left in a hurry.

You look very tired.

You must rest more.

Sure.

Give me more time.

I will soon give you an explanation.

Liu Zhi,

I don't need an explanation.

I just want you

to live on.

Live on?

What meaning is there in living?

CHANGLE OUTPOST

Sir,

instead of sleeping at night, you stare at this warrant.

WARRANT

Do you know him?

Your opportunity to return to Chang'an is here.

It's the middle of the night.

Don't try to fool me.

Last month, gave someone shelter.

He said his name was Zeng.

He came to Chang'an to do business

and all his money was scammed.

He asked for a place to stay.

I told him to work at the temple as a night guard

so that I can sneak out

at night to gamble.

Sir,

do you know how much you have lost?

Why persist in gambling?

But now,

I think he looks like this person.

Last month?

Why didn't you say it sooner?

Is your vision so bad that you only noticed yesterday?

Of course not.

I recognized him long ago

but I also heard about what he did in Chang'an back then.

He is the man chosen by Xiao Wuyang.

I need to determine what the right thing to do is.

In the future,

if Xiao Wuyang rises again,

then I shouldn't offend this person as well.

How unexpected.

You are more shrewd than I expected.

Today, he looked all dazed

like he was talking to ghosts.

He has no future left.

It's better to turn him in

and make us both rich.

We'll get 1,000 liang of silver.

You can take the credit.

But I have been unlucky recently.

Your bad luck must've rubbed off on me.

I even owe a lot of debt.

I just need a way back to the Capital.

You can

take all the reward.

WARRANT

Hot lamb soup!

Move.

Let's go.

- Yes. - Give me two.

- Sir, take a seat. - Fresh from the pot.

Vegetables! Come and take a look!

Fresh lamb meat!

Sir, two bowls of mutton.

Sure.

Sir, enjoy.

RICE BALLS, SWEETS, HOUSE SAUCES

- Come and take a look. - Mom, I want to drink the soup.

Pick it up, quick.

Come and take a look!

Buns!

- Meat buns! - They are fresh.

They are delicious!

Miss, come.

- How about two? - Come out and eat some meat.

You've trailed me all morning.

Nothing can be hidden

from you, Mr. Wang.

Let's talk while we eat.

Then I shall help myself.

In the past, I was an Imperial Guard on the surface

but I was actually serving the chancellor.

Chancellor Gao?

How are his legs?

Worse than yours by far.

Continue.

Xie Huai'an was stabbed previously.

Chancellor Gao ordered me to protect Xie Huai'an,

Ye Zheng, and Zhang Mo.

I was with them for a few years.

Other people don't recognize them

but I do.

Who did you find?

The Taoist temple outside the city.

Xie Huai'an.

I speak truth.

If I lie to you,

I don't think it'll be difficult for you to kill me, Mr. Wang.

However, your former master, Chancellor Gao,

is very protective of Xie Huai'an.

When the ship sinks, everyone jumps.

In recent times,

one's wealth is more important than one's reputation.

Being loyal is not as practical

as having some lamb meat to eat.

Sir.

Coming.

That's too much.

Buy a knife with the extra change.

Let's go.

Stop.

Mr. Wang Pu.

What's wrong?

The weather is changing.

XUANDU TEMPLE

THE WAY LIVES ON

Just one person?

Shut up.

Do you know who he is?

Mr. Wang Pu

is the most capable person under General Fengshan.

Apologies for not recognizing you.

Forgive me.

That's enough. Where is he?

He's in the hall at the back. He said his name was Zeng.

He has been staying here for about a month.

Don't follow me.

I'll go inside alone.

AWAKENING AND RETURNING TO PURITY

You're here?

Yes.

I'm cooking dumplings.

I made some for you too.

Sure. I'll dine with you.

I know you want to earn merit

and regain your dignity in front of Yan Fengshan.

Thus,

I asked Commander Wang to lure you here.

He serves me.

I know that.

He plays his part quite well.

Right.

I can't hide it from you for too long.

You're here.

It has been a while.

I've been waiting for you to summon me.

Another move has to be made

to hit back against Yan Fengshan.

I will never forget what the chancellor did for me.

As long as I can avenge the chancellor

and kill the Huben Army,

I will do your bidding.

I'm a criminal.

The general had a few men around me

to prevent me from escaping.

But after Commander Wang appeared

and I left the city with him,

they stopped appearing.

That means your men in the city

removed those sentries.

You are indeed the smartest tactician

under Yan Fengshan.

The dumplings will be done soon.

Have patience.

Stop flattering me.

I was completely outwitted by you

at Hidden Soldier Alley.

Then you know

full well

I stand as your opponent.

You also know that this is a trap.

Why come here at all?

Why not?

When I found out you were keeping an eye on me,

I couldn't wait to stand before you

and see what tricks you had prepared.