Original subtitles

[Moonlit Reunion]

[Episode 11]

He saved me.

I can't let him stay crippled.

You just dealt with the Wight yesterday,

and now you're using your power to heal him.

Careful. This is draining you.

It's fine.

I'm tougher than I look.

Fetch the Imperial Physician.

Mr. Mei, fortune truly smiles upon you.

Your injuries are healing far more quickly than expected.

However, given the severity of the fall,

if circumstances permit,

a period of convalescence would still be advisable

to ensure a full and secure recovery.

I shall prepare a medicinal prescription

to support your recuperation.

With consistent care, you should soon make a complete recovery.

I appreciate it.

Report this to the palace.

We are grateful for your protection last night, Mr. Mei.

Thanks to you, Ms. Wu emerged completely unharmed.

It was nothing.

After you were injured last night,

not only were the Empress and Consort Mei concerned,

but Ms. Wu was also deeply worried.

I was worried you might die in my residence.

That would have been inauspicious.

No need to worry. Fortune favors me.

Mr. Mei, are you leaving?

Since I've largely recovered,

I'll be returning.

Mr. Mei,

do you find the care at Duke's Mansion inadequate,

or do you simply prefer not to stay here?

I'd rather not stay.

If I remain here,

it may invite gossip

and harm your reputation.

You needn't worry about that.

Ms. Wu

truly has no regard for propriety.

Just look at her behavior last night.

Before dawn, all of Chang'an was buzzing with the news.

What news?

At the Sky Lantern Festival last night,

the Princess was seen pulling Mr. Mei aside

for a private meeting on the tower.

When Mr. Mei refused,

guess what she did?

What happened?

The Princess

broke his leg.

Heaven stirred in fury,

and sky lanterns fell, setting all ablaze.

Is this true?

Absolutely.

A distant relative of mine

serves as an imperial guard.

When they fell from the tower,

he escorted the Empress to investigate

and heard it with his own ears.

That can't be right.

Someone from my family

serves Consort Mei,

and she tells a different story.

What does she say?

What is it?

She says

it was Mr. Mei who harassed the Princess,

threatening to take his own life

unless she brought him into Duke's Mansion.

What you're both saying is...

Exactly, everyone tells a different version.

Mine is true.

These nobles nowadays

really go all out.

Whether it's dramatic or not,

one thing I know for sure

is that those who serve in the palace

aren't the best listeners.

[Mei Mansion]

Mr. Mei's favorite, braised eggplant.

Mr. Mei, you're back.

- Shi isn't back yet? - Any news of Mr. Mei?

I heard

last night Shi and the Princess

fell from the tower.

He was injured,

but no one knows where he is now.

Mr. Mei is hurt?

That Princess is nothing but a curse.

Who are you calling a curse?

You lazy, idle, distant relative

who loiters around all day!

Ever since you came to Chang'an, you've brought him nothing but trouble!

You're the real curse!

Who are you calling a curse?

You! You're the curse!

If you didn't eat so much every day,

Mr. Mei wouldn't have to work so hard

to earn more money.

If he weren't so exhausted,

he wouldn't have been weak,

and he wouldn't have fallen from the tower!

So it's all

because you eat too much!

You insolent servant!

- Mr. Mei. - Shi.

I'm here with a message.

Mr. Mei's leg is injured,

and will be staying at Duke's Mansion for now.

- Duke's Mansion? - Duke's Mansion?

Is it true they fell from the tower?

How bad is his injury?

Is it serious? Will he still be able to work?

Don't worry.

It's nothing grave.

Ms. Wu is taking good care of him.

He'll be back, strong and glowing.

Ms. Wu.

It's really not proper for me to stay here.

Besides, Xuanjian Division still needs me.

I've already informed them and sorted it out.

There aren't many cases lately anyway.

It makes no sense to force an injured man

to limp to duty.

But...

No "buts".

You saved me. That makes you my responsibility now.

Be good.

Don't worry about your duties.

I am, after all, a Princess.

I can easily afford to keep

ten gentlemen like you.

You want to keep ten?

Did your injury affect your brain too?

Your leg is injured,

and you're not hearing me clearly.

If I may say,

you spent the whole night worrying

and tending to Mr. Mei.

Why such a harsh tone now?

You're right. I was thoughtless.

Thank you, Ms. Wu, for your diligent care.

Don't worry, Mr. Mei.

I've already sent word to your residence.

Settle down and rest.

Thank you.

I've been away all night.

They must be worried.

Yes,

but even so,

they're still full of energy.

I meant to ask last night.

Ms. Wu,

you don't have feelings for this Mr. Mei, do you?

Why else would you be so worried?

It was all so sudden last night.

Right after that Wight attack,

my powers hadn't recovered.

If he hadn't stepped in,

the one lying there could've been me.

The great Cat Lord isn't so easily defeated.

Besides, he's just a mortal.

Whether he helped or not hardly matters.

Even the Cat Lord isn't all-powerful.

I'm not beyond fear, pain, or death.

Let's go.

Where to?

Didn't you say Shu's awake?

Let's go see him.

Remember how you hated medicine as a child?

Then I found this shop's candy by chance.

You loved it so much.

You'd only take your medicine with this candy.

Later, I found out

you skipped all your tonic medicine

and were just eating candy all day.

Careful,

or we'll start calling you Chubby Zhen.

Back then,

I ate so much candy and got too chubby.

Couldn't hide it at all.

But

their candy really is delicious.

Remember how far the candy shop was?

You complained every time you had to go.

So you, our esteemed Mr. Shu,

convinced the shop owner

to move right next to the archive.

Of course.

Anything you want,

I'll make it happen for you.

Then I'll take this candy.

Sure.

But

try not to overdo it.

What, were you waiting for me?

Yes.

I heard you've been here.

I'm here on official matters.

How is Xuan Hui?

I lured him to the east side of the city.

I meant to capture him,

but he got away.

We need to be careful.

Chang'an must not suffer at his hands.

He's injured now.

Probably can't cause much trouble.

Though mischievous,

and however many times he's tried to escape Demon Prison,

he has never harmed a mortal.

This time, not only did he break out,

but he also showed up at the Sky Lantern Festival.

I fear...

Someone must be helping him from the shadows.

Someone used the power of Heavenly Thunder to break him out.

The only one capable of that

is Elder Hui himself.

Most likely.

They must have made a deal.

How is Elder Hui now?

Restrained, still in Demon Prison.

I've posted extra guards.

He keeps causing trouble

and it's all aimed at me.

This time, it ends with him.

What's your plan?

I'll deal with it after the next few days.

Busy with what?

Taking care of a patient.

Mr. Mei.

Heading somewhere?

Ms. Wu...

is really

giving it her all.

What are you carrying?

My Lady.

Mr. Mei mentioned he's been resting for days

and feels a bit grimy,

and would like to bathe.

I'm bringing him some clothes.

Since he's bathing,

it wouldn't be appropriate for you to go over.

Who is it?

I brought you clean clothes.

Why are you delivering them yourself?

Who did you expect it to be?

I didn't mean it like that.

Mr. Mei, have you heard the story

about the stolen clothes?

What's that?

Well, it's said that long ago,

there was a poor farmer

who struggled to make ends meet.

One day,

in the field where the man was farming,

a divine sign appeared.

It told him

that in three days,

a celestial maiden would bathe in the mountain stream.

Skeptical, yet he went anyway.

And sure enough, he encountered a woman.

She was stunning. He fell for her at once.

So he followed the divine sign's instructions,

and took the clothes the maiden had left by the stream.

After bathing,

she found her clothes were gone.

She had no choice but to stay in the water.

The man then appeared.

They felt an instant connection.

After that,

the celestial maiden remained in the mortal world

and became the man's wife.

They lived a simple, harmonious life.

So? Moved by the tale?

You didn't

make the story up, did you, Ms. Wu?

Of course not.

It's from a script of the previous dynasty.

A script with such an absurd story?

What's so absurd about it?

That a celestial maiden would feel an instant connection

with someone who stole her clothes?

Perhaps

the man was handsome.

By knowing one's heart, the self is revealed.

This man's character is truly beyond reproach.

Just because he took her clothes?

This man was struggling in life.

Instead of relying on his own efforts to change his situation,

he hoped to change his fate by marrying.

If it were you,

what would you do?

I only know

if he truly cared for her,

he should have settled his life first

before proposing to her.

Instead, he pulled her into the mess

he couldn't handle himself.

This story does sound a bit flawed.

Perhaps I remembered it wrong.

Are you mocking me?

I'm not.

You and I

are different from them.

How so?

Do we really

want to have this conversation here?

[Mei Mansion]

This Chronicles of the Uncanny...

[Chronicles of the Uncanny]

is really intriguing.

Don't waste your time.

Take a bite.

I can't believe it.

Do I look like a vegetarian to you?

Scared now?

You mere mortal, in my presence,

kneel and show your respect.

You...

You can talk?

You're

a loach sprite?

Seriously?

I am an Obsidian Serpent.

Obsidian Serpent?

Obsidian Serpent.

But the scroll only mentioned loach sprites.

Where is this?

How did I get here?

Ms. Liu.

Ms. Liu!

Ms...

Who threw water on me?

Who did that?

Little loach?

Did I just squash it?

Little loach.

I swear

I really just stumbled upon you.

I know nothing else.

So you just happened to be there?

Then why did you save me?

What was I supposed to do?

Just leave you there?

Lost a fight, huh?

Why would you save me?

Why save you?

You think I'd just leave you there?

You.

What's that look for?

So White Snake was right.

Spirits and demons aren't just myths.

Today I actually found a little one.

I am not little!

So this is what you can do?

It's kind of cute.

Do another trick!

No.

I'll take you to meet someone.

You can perform for her.

I am noble.

You expect me to entertain others?

Is that a no?

Once I've recovered,

I'll bite you to death, you petty human!

From what you're saying,

when you're not hurt,

you're actually quite powerful, huh?

Obviously.

If some coward hadn't struck me

in the middle of my transformation

with some heavy object,

I'd never have ended up like this!

Don't even know what it was.

But when I find out,

I'll chop it to pieces!

Do you

know something?

I really don't.

Are you hungry?

I'll get you more cabbage.

I don't eat that.

You're kind of dirty.

Let's get you cleaned up.

Don't touch me.

I won't. You do it yourself.

Then I'm not bathing.

I wonder if Mr. Mei

finds the food at Duke's Mansion to his liking.

I've no idea if he's enjoying life at Duke's Mansion,

but I do know one thing for certain.

What is that?

The cuisine at Duke's Mansion

is far superior to your insipid cooking.

Ridiculous.

Mr. Mei places great importance on the essence of food.

Simple food nourishes both body and mind.

Such a country bumpkin.

The finer things are wasted on you.

Who are you calling a country bumpkin?

Who is criticizing my cooking as insipid?

So, you're picking a fight now?

Were it not for Mr. Mei,

I'd have had more than enough chances to crush you!

I could crush a dozen like you...

What? Thinking of striking me?

Without breaking a sweat.

A fight?

Go on.

He is not worthy.

You are the one who is not worthy.

I am here to deliver Mei's monthly stipend.

I can't believe Mei is so stingy in private.

Is this really all he gives you every month?

That's Mr. Mei's share.

This is mine.

You receive plenty each month,

yet you leave Shi with so little?

Is that why the meals are always so plain?

I...

I've told you countless times,

Mr. Mei actually likes simple food.

Sir, why are you eating?

Isn't this a little rude?

It's fine, really.

No, it's not.

And listen,

if my cooking isn't to your taste,

feel free to step outside and cook for yourself.

You must be Mei's cousin,

Shuangjiang, right?

Yes.

Both of you, come here.

I assume you both know

Mei is at Duke's Mansion right now?

Of course we do.

Once Shi gets used to their lavish meals,

he might come back and ask for a new cook.

Maybe you'll be the first to go.

That's impossible.

You'll be the first to go!

You're the one who's getting replaced.

Who he'll replace isn't the point.

What really matters is

whether Mei

returns at all.

Of course he will.

Duke's Mansion is safe enough.

But the Princess? That's another story.

Think about it.

Mei is talented, sure,

but they have power and status.

Plus,

the Princess is rather forceful.

So...

Even before the wedding,

Mei gets taken to Duke's Mansion.

Now the whole town

is betting on

whether the Princess will marry into the Mei family,

or if Mr. Mei will move into the Duke's Mansion.

So,

are you saying

Mr. Mei

is going to become their live-in groom?

Shi

is getting married?

No!

I can't just sit around waiting!

Where are you going?

Wait, you're not finishing the meal?

[Duke of Wu's Mansion]

Shi!

Mr. Mei!

Are you looking for Mr. Mei?

- Hand over Mr. Mei. - Hand over Shi.

Go straight down that way.

He's in the second courtyard.

Shi!

Mr. Mei!

Shi!

- Mr. Mei. - Shi.

Why are you here?

- Mr. Mei. - Shi.

Shi.

Are you hurt?

Did she take advantage of you?

Did you give yourself to her?

Don't be ridiculous.

Mr. Mei,

do you remember me?

Are you feeling alright?

Relax, I'm perfectly fine,

and I remember you.

I'm glad you do.

That's a relief.

I was afraid the fall

might have damaged your head.

Cut the nonsense off.

His head's fine. It's his leg that's hurt.

Of course I know it.

Mr. Mei, let me rub it for you.

Ow!

It'll feel better.

Wenhua.

So, Mr. Mei, have you been staying away so long

because you can't bear to leave this luxury?

Or is it that my cooking

doesn't suit your taste?

It's not that.

I can't leave right now.

Exactly, Shi.

You should rest here for a while.

Besides, his cooking is terrible anyway.

If so, why do you eat so much?

Mr. Mei,

why not sit in the courtyard and get some sun?

I hear sunlight helps you heal faster.

So, Senior Zhuyu.

What exactly happened?

The chaos at the Sky Lantern Festival,

I suspect, wasn't caused by humans.

What?

What did you say?

That night,

did you really not sense anything?

That night,

I was preoccupied

and didn't notice.

If there's more behind this,

it's likely connected to the Demon Market.

This might be our chance

to finally locate it.

Makes sense.

With my leg injured,

I'll have to ask you to investigate

what happened that night.

Of course.

I'm good at this kind of legwork.

But...

But what?

All of Chang'an is buzzing with rumors

that you broke your leg

and are marrying into Duke's Mansion.

What nonsense.

I knew it was all lies.

There's nothing between you two.

Senior Zhuyu?

There's something

between Ms. Wu and me.

What does that mean?

Did she take advantage of you?

It's my fault.

I think

I've fallen for her.

Fallen?

What kind of "fallen"?

"In youth, one longs for parents.

In desire, for beauty."

The kind of love

between a man and a woman.

Senior Zhuyu, how could you

be swayed by a mere charmer?

She is not a charmer.

She didn't enchant me.

Senior Zhuyu.

Have you been away so long that you've forgotten?

Those of Changxi Palace

must not form attachments.

I haven't.

You two

have no future.

I don't intend to marry her.

You love her,

but won't marry her?

I don't really understand.

You asked me,

so I confessed my feelings.

That's all.

Lately, I've been reading poetry.

One verse says:

"What use chasing the world,

when I am but a boat adrift?"

Though I feel this love,

my heart is anchored elsewhere.

I seek the cause, not the outcome.

Senior Zhuyu.

I've always seen you

as someone who stands apart like the moon.

It's difficult, I know,

but every cultivator dreams of ascension.

If anyone can achieve it, it's you.

You've always been detached,

mostly indifferent to worldly matters.

But this time in Chang'an,

I've noticed you've changed.

Look at you.

You're even reading poetry now.

You never used to care for such useless things.

Senior Zhuyu, I don't understand.

Perhaps

the night is too cold,

so I longed for a little light.

[Refined in Virtue, Gentle in Essence]

Careful.

Mr. Mei,

we'll be heading home now.

No more fights, okay?

- Don't worry. - Okay.

You may leave.

Mr. Mei is afraid of cats.

Maybe I should leave.

But right now, I am just a cat.

I can't act too human.

But leaving when I see someone

makes sense, right?

Little one.

Impossible.

There's no way he sees through me.

Are you stuck up there?

Senior Zhuyu actually fell for someone

since entering the mortal world.

Should I inform Elder Senior and others?

Tell them.

No.

Tell.

No.

Tell.

No.

Tell.

One last chance.

Tell.

No.

Tell.

No.

Tell.

No.

Tell.

Then it's settled.

It seems heaven wills it so.

Senior Zhuyu cannot remain in Chang'an any longer.

But what should I do?

If I speak the truth,

he will be punished.

But if I conceal it...

Got it!

Since there truly are demons in Chang'an,

and Senior Zhuyu was even injured because of them,

I can ask Elder Senior to recall him for recovery.

It's perfectly reasonable.

This way, I can separate the two of them

without actually lying.

A perfect solution.

I really am clever.

His wounds have barely healed,

and he's already back to work?

♪A glimpse of your silhouette♪

♪Let the incense drift as I sip the silence♪

♪The rustling of leaves by the doorstep♪

♪And longing begins to hum its quiet tune♪

♪May I borrow this time of peace?♪

♪To express my tenderness I hold within♪

♪That confession of "my heart delights in you"♪

♪Yet I'm too shy to speak the truth aloud♪

♪At the moment I met you♪

♪I felt as if I had wings of light♪

♪Every sight my eyes behold shines bright as stars♪

♪My years are etched with your name, this life devoted♪

♪You are the vow I never questioned♪

♪Though time may flow cold and unkind♪

♪I'll follow you wherever you roam♪

♪Through life's journey, love is our guiding decree♪

♪Fear no mountain, nor dread the mile♪

♪You are the purpose of my lifelong quest♪

[Tome of Exorcism]

Move it.

- Cat Lord. - Cat Lord.

Elder Hui, good day.

Well, well… the Cat Lord deigns to appear.

What brings you here?

Could it be that you're here to see me off

now that my period of reflection

is nearing its end?

I see.

There was a disturbance at Demon Prison a few days ago.

Word has it that Xuan Hui escaped.

Could it be that you're here because of that, Cat Lord?

Do you require my assistance?

Elder Hui,

there's no need to pretend.

You don't acknowledge my authority as Cat Lord,

yet you don't dare to face me in a fair fight.

Instead, you skulk in the shadows,

engaging in petty, underhanded schemes.

Oh, I forgot

you are a rat, after all.

This grudge between us has been festering for long.

I've been pondering how to settle this once and for all.

These past few days, I've finally come to a decision.

I will do as you suggested, Elder Hui.

The victor claims it all, and the defeated bears the cost.

What do you say?

♪A sigh for mortal dust♪

♪As blossoms burn to dusk♪

♪Memories tint the heart♪

♪Carved in silence, fading unseen♪

♪Candle shadows carve through grief♪

♪Seasons turn in silent thief♪

♪Night rain murmurs, faint and slow♪

♪Tears fall quiet, lost below♪

♪I drift away with scattered stars♪

♪Glancing back at time's worn scars♪

♪You're the longing that defies the end of days♪

♪If the tale could turn anew, and reshape the skies♪

♪I would spend my life on you, in patient sacrifice♪

♪Let fate rise through the storm, as love begins again♪

♪Never could I forget♪

♪When oaths dissolve into oceans, drifting through the years♪

♪Memory walks beside me, ever close, forever clear♪

♪A will that never falters♪

♪Fading beneath time's quiet hush♪

♪If the tale could turn anew, and reshape the skies♪

♪I would spend my life on you, in patient sacrifice♪

♪Let fate rise through the storm, as love begins again♪

♪Never could I forget♪

♪When oaths dissolve into oceans, drifting through the years♪

♪Memory walks beside me, ever close, forever clear♪

♪A will that never falters♪

♪Fading beneath time's quiet hush♪