Original subtitles

[How dare you!?]

[Episode 4]

[Changning Palace]

Your Highness, run!

It shouldn't be like this.

This wasn't the plan.

Xu Yao!

Don't die.

Please.

Your Highness, do you really not understand?

Run!

Don't look back no matter who you meet.

Stay alive.

Are you hurt anywhere, Your Highness?

Trust no one.

Don't leave me.

Don't leave me.

I'm here.

Your Majesty.

The arsonists have been caught.

Your Majesty, we're innocent!

-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!

I am innocent!

We were just passing by.

We saw the library was on fire.

So we went to put it out!

The library is in a remote location.

It wasn't even your shift that day.

What were you doing there?

Spare us, Your Majesty!

It wasn't me!

Spare us, Your Majesty!

It wasn't me!

-Your Majesty, spare my life! -Your Majesty, spare my life!

Kill them!

-Your Majesty, spare my life! -Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

-Your Majesty, spare my life! -Your Majesty!

Please!

-Your Majesty, spare my life! -Please spare my life!

Does it still hurt?

Tissue...

Tissue...

Handkerchief!

Hurry! Handkerchief!

You can cry.

It's okay to cry.

You'll feel better after crying.

Everyone from the library has been rescued.

The arsonists have been found.

However,

they're just scapegoats.

I believe

they were acting on Xiahou Bo's orders.

Senior Minister Xu has been brought back.

To avoid Prince Duan's spies,

he's been temporarily placed at a suburban house.

When things settle down,

we'll go see him.

What about Xu Yao?

The coroner said

he died

in peace.

Before the fire reached him,

he had already died from poison.

So

he didn't suffer again.

Take the medicine first.

It's not hot anymore.

Just drink it

like water to reduce your fever.

Thank goodness

you also came from another world.

Otherwise I'd be all alone.

I just said no one would harm you,

and then...

I'm sorry.

I broke my promise.

You don't have to wait until the end.

If it becomes too painful for you,

I...

I mean...

I can send you out right now

to get away from this mess.

Do you want to leave here?

I've recorded all

of Prince Duan's plans in a book

and buried it under the window of his mansion's back kitchen.

Don't go looking for it right away.

Wait at least seven days.

Xu Yao said he left a book

that can be used against Prince Duan.

You mean...

We can't let Xu Yao die in vain.

You mean

you don't need me to send you away?

Why is that your focus?

I'm talking about Xu Yao's book

that can be used against Prince Duan.

You've missed such an important point.

Right.

What...

What book?

Before he died, Xu Yao

said he had recorded Prince Duan's plans

in a book

and hid it right inside the prince's mansion.

He came specifically

to tell me about this.

That's why, despite being severely poisoned,

he risked his life to bring this message to me in the library.

I can't believe I actually thought

our plan had succeeded back then.

Xu Yao was kept in the dark his whole life,

slaving away for his enemy.

Is that somehow better?

At least

he could determine his own fate,

unlike those

who have no control over their fate.

No control over fate.

Are you talking about Xu Yao

or yourself?

I mean

the road is winding

but the future is bright.

You're right.

The most important thing for us now

is to survive.

Our main goal

is to survive.

Who says you need to be a warrior to win the game?

If we survive till the end,

we'll have everything.

Next,

we need to play

a game of survival overtime.

Do you understand?

I understand.

I fully understand.

Survive.

Survive!

Why won't His Highness come to see me in person?

Your Highness.

His Highness is ill and cannot come.

He's ill?

How come?

To be honest,

when the library caught fire that day,

the one who escaped from the fire

was Consort Yu Wanyin,

and the one who couldn't escape

was His Highness's adviser,

Xu Yao.

What did you say?

Yu Wanyin and His Highness's adviser

were both in the library?

Why didn't he tell me?

Is there something he couldn't bring himself to say?

He had intended to keep this from you,

fearing that the more you knew,

the more likely you would get into trouble.

Her Majesty now holds absolute power and is at the height of her influence.

She already sees His Highness as a thorn in her side and targets him at every turn.

That tyrant and his demonic consort

are also doing everything they can to cut off His Highness's support.

His Highness is now isolated and without help.

Your Highness,

please take good care of yourself.

His Highness has the world in his heart

and cares for all people.

He's truly destined to rule this empire.

Now he's hindered by treacherous officials.

How could I stand by and do nothing?

Although I cannot often see him,

I

think of him constantly.

Please, young man,

deliver this letter to His Highness.

It'll surely help him rise again.

The library caught fire a few days ago.

Is everyone all right?

Your Majesty.

The imperial physician said

that Consort Yu's burns were not serious,

but that day

after jumping from the third floor into the water,

she had also caught a cold.

Thus, she had been running a high fever for the past few days.

Jumping from the third floor into the water?

She's quite brave, isn't she?

Her external injuries have healed,

but I fear the shock she experienced...

What about His Majesty?

Has he visited her?

It was His Majesty who carried Consort Yu back to the palace that day.

But for some reason these past few days,

he hasn't gone to see her again.

Consort Yu was saved by Prince Duan.

His Majesty is suspicious by nature.

Perhaps this has caused some discord.

Oh, how interesting!

I've also heard

that Consort Yu's palace has been ransacked,

as if

she's about to fall out of favor.

I can't miss out on

such a good show.

[Changning Palace]

My Lady.

My Lady, are you alright now?

I'm fine now.

My Lady, you're still smiling!

His Majesty hasn't come to see you lately,

and those servants are taking advantage of it.

They've taken away more than half of our things.

Really?

The Empress Dowager has arrived!

Why is the Empress Dowager here?

I heard the library caught fire.

Were you injured, Consort Yu?

I'm fine.

I was concerned about you and came to see you.

Do you know who started the fire?

I don't know.

You've been far too ostentatious,

which is why you've earned envy.

After this incident,

you should know

that the Emperor will not protect you.

Yes, yes, yes.

This is so sudden.

Eunuch An, where will we live?

Don't worry, ladies.

Accommodations have already been arranged for you.

Eunuch An.

Just tell us where we'll be staying.

Yes, please.

I haven't finished packing my things.

Eunuch An.

Women in this imperial harem

are all the same.

To the left.

To the left.

To the left...

To the right.

Arrange everything by category.

Place the furniture neatly.

Every corner

must be free of dust.

Vulgar.

Too elegant.

Both vulgar and elegant.

This one is nice.

Why make the chamber pot so beautiful?

How many times have I told you?

Consort Yu doesn't like blue.

What are you doing?

Noble Consort Wei is ostentatious

simply because she flaunts her family background.

It is green.

Is it?

Really?

Yes, Your Majesty.

In my opinion, the lighting

affects how colors appear.

Yes, Your Majesty.

If you obey me,

I will naturally care for you.

Otherwise,

in these dark chambers,

when will you ever rise up?

Your Majesty.

What are you doing here?

I'm here to announce His Majesty's decree.

Congratulations, Consort Yu has been promoted to Noble Consort

and will move to Zhaoyang Palace.

Your Highness,

please.

Noble Consort?

How spacious!

How magnificent!

How beautiful!

Do you like it?

It's exclusively yours.

Exclusive.

This is too exclusive.

There's no one else here.

♪ Love is a sweet recipe ♪

Who says there's no one else here?

♪ Slowly fermenting ♪

♪ Incredible ♪

♪ The stars have shifted ♪

♪ Fate is written in stone ♪

♪ Crossing time and space to meet you ♪

Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Your Highness.

♪ Pouting and squabbling ♪

♪ Shocking and breathtaking ♪

♪ Precisely into each other's hearts ♪

These are

my personal secret guards.

♪ From day to night ♪

Chu Yi

specializes in Hard Qigong.

♪ From lively to lonely ♪

♪ From the present to the past ♪

Chu Er

specializes in hidden weapons.

♪ It's always you ♪

♪ From misunderstanding to fascination ♪

Chu San

has extraordinary flexibility.

♪ From disgust to trust ♪

♪ I'll search for you with all my might ♪

Chu Si.

He's good at...

♪ Warm and carefree ♪

Using poisons.

And Chu Wu, Chu Liu, Chu Qi...

♪ With you ♪

That's enough.

No need for demonstrations.

♪ Love is your salt, your sugar ♪

No need for demonstrations.

♪ Your flour, your sauce ♪

All seven of them

♪ Your grains and beans ♪

will now

be stationed at Zhaoyang Palace.

♪ Love is sweet, sour, bitter and spicy ♪

Do they

♪ A recipe of mixed flavors ♪

have no real names?

♪ A tender haven with you ♪

Names are merely code names.

From today on,

they will hide in the shadows

and protect you

as they protect me.

♪ Love is a sweet recipe ♪

♪ Slowly fermenting ♪

Where's my snake?

Does none of you care about me?

Aren't you supposed to protect me just as you protect His Majesty?

It's just a reflex.

Give them some time to adjust.

Other people's staff really can't be relied upon.

I still need my own secret guards.

Starting today,

all of you will serve in Zhaoyang Palace.

Remember to behave properly,

be careful with your words and actions,

and never do anything improper.

Do you understand?

At least answer me!

Is it fun?

Yes, it's fun.

Your Majesty, push me higher!

Not high enough?

I want to fly!

♪ Love is a sweet recipe ♪

♪ Slowly fermenting ♪

Okay!

♪ Incredible ♪

♪ The stars have shifted ♪

Stop looking.

Move along.

♪ Fate is written in stone ♪

Hurry up. Move.

♪ Crossing time and space to meet you ♪

-It's fun! -Hurry up.

♪ Pouting and squabbling ♪

♪ Shocking and breathtaking ♪

[Zhaoyang Hall]

♪ Precisely into each other's hearts ♪

Fly.

♪ From day to night ♪

♪ From lively to lonely ♪

♪ From the present to the past ♪

♪ It's always you ♪

Your Majesty,

this dried persimmon is delicious!

♪ From misunderstanding to fascination ♪

♪ From disgust to trust ♪

Come on.

♪ I'll search for you with all my might ♪

My dear, you eat it.

You eat it, Your Majesty.

♪ Warm and carefree ♪

My dear, you eat it.

You eat it, Your Majesty.

♪ With you ♪

My dear, you eat it.

♪ Love is your salt, your sugar ♪

♪ Your flour, your sauce ♪

I caught a fish!

♪ Your grains and beans ♪

♪ Love is sweet, sour, bitter and spicy ♪

But I caught a bigger one.

♪ A recipe of mixed flavors ♪

Where is it?

♪ A tender haven with you ♪

Right here.

A mermaid.

Stop it!

What's going on?

♪ Love is a sweet recipe ♪

Am I the only one who thinks

Noble Consort Yu is too affected?

♪ Slowly fermenting ♪

You're not the only one.

These past few days, Consort Yu

has been waking up,

having breakfast,

then strolling in the garden,

and having lunch.

And then?

She stays in her chambers behind closed doors for six hours.

Six hours?

What has she been doing?

Nothing much.

Just sleeping.

Sleeping?

Eating, sleeping, rinse and repeat.

She's got no worries at all, does she?

What else?

She also sends for her dinner,

and even orders a midnight snack.

What kind of person is she?

She eats like a horse.

Born in the Year of the Pig, I guess?

She keeps to this routine every day.

Are there no other changes with her?

Well, there is one change.

Tell me.

Consort Yu's waist

has widened a bit.

What kind of person did you find for this?

Get out!

Get out!

Yes.

It's getting dark.

How did I sleep for so long?

Wanyin.

Come here.

You...

When did you

set up a barbecue?

On high, we'd be two birds flying wing to wing.

On earth,

let's just have a barbecue!

Let's go fishing.

Let's go.

Let's go catch fish!

We've been acting in front of those eunuchs and maids

for days now.

I can't even spin in circles anymore.

And even if there are spies among them,

they must have lowered their guard by now.

I'm not acting.

I really want to have a barbecue.

But I can't eat anymore.

I've gained weight.

What do you want to do then?

Let's sneak out of the palace.

What for?

I've figured out how to get past Prince Duan

to fetch Xu Yao's book.

Aren't we supposed to

lay low?

How boring that is!

Let's just

have some fun.

Great!

No one will recognize you.

Look.

No problem.

Since ancient times, beautiful women have caused trouble,

just like the demonic consort who's causing havoc in our state.

Me?

Since she gained favor,

that tyrant has neglected state affairs even more.

All day long in the Zhaoyang Palace,

-he's just making eyes at that consort... -He's talking about me!

And flirting with her.

You may well wonder

if she's pretty or a master of coquetry.

Why does this demonic consort have such power

that the emperor refuses to leave her?

It's actually very simple.

It's all because of

our specialty at Tianxiang House,

Fish Ball Wine!

You...

Ladies, would you like to try some?

It seems that our personas are quite impressive.

They're even selling merchandise of us.

I was never this popular before.

This is what we call bundling.

I made you famous.

I'm not complimenting you.

How much longer do we have to walk?

Isn't Xu Yao's book

hidden in Prince Duan's mansion?

Who told you we're out to steal the book?

With our skills,

plus your secret guards behind us,

we'd just be walking to our deaths.

So you're just out here for fun?

Am I that shallow in your eyes?

I'm taking you to meet someone,

a master who exploits plot holes in the original story.

Let's go.

Don't follow so closely.

Spread out a bit.

In typical web novels,

there's always one

incredibly powerful master.

As it happens, this person has deep connections with you.

Who?

Never heard of this person.

Of course you haven't.

[Bei Zhou]

This person's name is Bei Zhou,

who happens to be your mother...

Your mother,

the late Empress Ci Zhen's childhood bodyguard.

They grew up together as childhood friends.

Shortly after Empress Ci Zhen entered the palace,

she passed away.

Bei Zhou believed she was murdered by villains.

So,

he joined a martial arts sect

and mastered extraordinary fighting skills.

[Martial Arts Hero Rankings]

"Transmigration: The Demonic Consort" states that

he came back to the capital later,

wanting to take the son of his old friend, you,

Xiahou Dan,

away with him.

But this person never came.

He did come.

But he came too late,

only managing to take your corpse.

Isn't that

a bit too late?

But now I know the plot.

We can make him appear earlier.

So where is

this person?

We're here.

Spring water outshines the sky in blue.

On painted barge, I sleep to rain's soft tune.

I'm but a mortal in the mundane world.

I envy mandarin ducks, not the immortals.

Young master, please come in.

What a good poem!

Let's go.

-Look. -What is this?

Please come in.

What is all this?

Indulging in sensual pleasures and wallowing in luxury,

this is totally out of line!

Put your hand down!

You... put your hand down!

Li.

What if that person

[Yang Duojie]

you just pointed at and insulted

is the son of some important court official?

That's right.

I'm not afraid of his powerful father.

I, Li Yunxi, have seen it all.

Bearded man!

[Li Yunxi]

That's enough.

It's rare for Yang to treat us today.

[Wang Zhao]

Look at you!

Don't cause any trouble.

It's not a treat. Watch your words.

Just a little drink.

I'd never afford a treat on my purse.

Yang is treating us, right?

Let's go quickly.

Hurry up.

What are you doing?

I'm going to...

I'm going to check it out.

Entry before dusk hour

enjoys a discount.

Great!

I thought it was some brothel.

What are you thinking?

You're the emperor.

Can't you be more dignified?

[Du Shan, Fine Fowls] [Cheng Wen, Under the Blue Clouds]

[Li Yunxi, Intoxicated in the Shade of Flowers]

In the storyline,

this is where scholars and poets

gather for elite meetings.

See this sign?

These songs listed here

are performed by songstresses

who set the most popular poems to music.

It's basically the ancient version of a book launch.

Whoever has their poem

sung by the most famous songstress

becomes the most celebrated person.

Li Bai and his kind often did this.

They were truly refined.

Scholars and poets...

More like libertines than scholars,

I'd say.

Young man,

you two look unfamiliar here.

We heard Miss Hongyuan is debuting a new song today,

so we came to join in the fun.

-No problem. -Right?

We want to witness the birth of a new talent.

Gentlemen, please go upstairs. The view is better there.

Brother.

Don't be shy.

Enjoy yourself.

Please.

Let's go.

Come on.

Don't be shy.

Why are you so familiar with this?

If you draft more proposals

and create more presentations, you'll understand.

It's all part of the job.

Beauty, I'm here!

Aren't you...

You...

You've already set everything up?

As the president,

I need to have the big picture, right?

[Du Shan, Fine Fowls] [Cheng Wen, Under the Blue Clouds]

[Li Yunxi, Intoxicated in the Shade of Flowers]

Everyone!

Miss Hongyuan has selected a poem

and composed a new melody.

She will perform after one incense stick burns down.

Everyone, place your bets quickly!

[Fang Wenshui] [Cheng Wen] [Li Yunxi] [Du Shan]

This is outrageous!

The art of poetry

should not be used for gambling!

I submitted my poem

so it would be heard throughout the land

and serve as a remonstration to the emperor.

The present emperor

is so incompetent.

On our journey here,

through thirteen provinces,

we saw people selling themselves to bury their fathers,

countless families begging on the streets.

"While meat and wine go to waste behind the vermilion gates of the rich,

the poor is frozen to death on an empty stomach by the roadside."

Such an incompetent ruler deserves to die!

Li is right.

The prosperity now

-is nothing but an illusion -Control yourself.

-before the coming collapse. -Control yourself.

Nowadays

there's no one capable in court.

The Yan State has been eyeing the Great Xia covetously.

Even

the tiny Qiang State

dares to violate our borders.

I've heard

[Du Shan]

the emperor now favors Yu exclusively

and pays even less attention to state affairs.

That demonic consort

brings disaster to the country and kills innocents

just like the infamous Daji.

I heard her face

is as sharp-featured as a snake spirit's,

and her chin is so pointy that it could peel a pear!

My chin can peel a pear?

I'll peel you now!

Control yourself.

Control yourself.

There's no need to speak like that.

"The songstress knows not the grief of the captive king."

Do they really sing of their own accord?

It's clearly those wealthy young masters

[Er Lan]

who splash out a fortune to request them.

Why lay the blame on women instead?

This person's words make perfect sense.

The most despicable are those mindless lackeys

who aid the tyrant.

They cow the loyal officials into silence

and let the treacherous ones seize control of the court.

If I pass the imperial exam, I'll remonstrate at the cost of my life

and eliminate those lackeys first.

Li.

-Li is right. -Control yourself.

-Let's control ourselves. -You are our role model.

You're always talking about death.

It's such bad luck.

Let's protect ourselves first

and plan our next move carefully.

Come, young man.

It's alright.

Wait!

[Fang Wenshui] [Cheng Wen] [Li Yunxi] [Du Shan]

Have some tea.

Green shadows dance, the phoenix branch sways.

Alone it perches, no common bird stays.

High on the parasol, a clear breeze blows.

The noble bird chooses its tree, spreads its wings and goes.

The wise have eyes to tell false from true.

The loyal minister chooses a worthy lord, with a faithful heart.

The road to high glory lies ahead for all.

Choose the good to abide with, wait for the time to call.

Great!

Excellent!

What I sang today

was composed by the talented Du Shan,

a piece called Fine Fowls.

Du, it was you?

Congratulations!

Thank you.

I never thought a slacker like you

could pen such incisive verses!

I'm flattered.

Wonderful!

What's so wonderful?

Don't you hear

this poem is mocking me for not being a wise ruler?

I meant

what a beautiful lady.

Relax.

When people talk like that,

it means your tyrant image is solid,

staying true to the original character.

It also shows

there are quite a few people in the world who want me dead.

Have you forgotten

what you came here to do today?

Have you found the person you're looking for?

I...

How could I forget?

I'm still looking.

I just skimmed through

the original novel.

I can't remember the description

of this person's appearance at all.

With so many people here,

can we really find him?

I remember

in the original book,

you look a lot like your mother.

Just stay like this.

Stand right here.

With your face

being the spitting image of your mother's,

I refuse to believe

that we can't find him,

or that he can't find us.

Are you sure?

My mother looks like this?

Sorry.

Just a moment.

Come, let me tell you.

That hurts so much.

Just hurry and find him.

That one definitely isn't him.

Too fat.

That one doesn't look right either.

Too young.

What about that one?

Looks too sleazy.

A fine fowl perches only on a fine tree.

Du, your words truly resonate with me.

But where on earth is such a fine tree

to be found in this troubled world today?

Actually, we've long heard that

Prince Duan's literary and military talents

far exceed those of the tyrant.

Moreover, Prince Duan is known for respecting the talented,

[Cen Jintian]

appointing people based on merit, regardless of background.

If we want to fulfill our ambitions,

perhaps...

This is treasonous!

How outrageous!

Li!

-Even if the emperor is incompetent, -Li!

he's still the only legitimate ruler of the land.

No matter how talented Prince Duan is,

he should remain a subject.

How could he overstep his bounds?

What's wrong?

Found him.

Where?

It's him.

How do you know?

Because

he has eyes that don't belong to a corporate slave.

And look at that old man's temples.

In martial arts novels,

martial arts masters' temples

are always protruding.

Only the elderly

and physically weak people

have sunken temples.

My great-uncle was just like that.

If I remember correctly,

that person who doesn't like music

is also him, right?

You have a good memory.

Anyway,

when he comes out, you can test him and see.

Why don't you go?

If I go, wouldn't I just be walking to my death?

If anything happens to you,

your guards will all protect you.

My guards...

He's coming out!

Sir.

How many

waiters and servants do you have here?

Seven or eight waiters,

and roughly the same number of servants.

Is there anyone

who just arrived in the past two years,

over 40 years old,

and quite sturdy-looking?

Why are you asking about this?

I just find your face quite familiar.

What about me, in your eyes?

This bodes well.

Meeting like this is fate.

Since we've met,

why don't we be honest with each other?

Even if you're mistaken,

there's no need to pull out a knife.

A fight broke out!

Let's go.

Hurry!

Look!

It seems like there's a fight upstairs.

There really is.

There's actually a fight upstairs.

You haven't paid yet. Don't leave!

If you want to fight, do it outside!

Not in here!

Your guards seem rather incompetent.

I mistook you for someone else.

It's a misunderstanding.

It's all a misunderstanding.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.