Original subtitles

♫ I spur my horse, a whip in hand, to claim the land ♫

♫ Little did I know, my boldness couldn’t overcome the sorrow of parting ♫

♫ I shed my armor and wear the brocade ♫

♫ The man in the yellow light sighs alone ♫

♫ But no grand ambition can fill this lonely night ♫

♫ With all my courage, I'd hold a paper umbrella high ♫

♫ To shield you from every storm in the sky ♫

♫ On the lakeside of the mortal world ♫

♫ I look back, a thousand ships have sailed by ♫

♫ We drank to our joys and griefs in the endless sand ♫

♫ But let slip the perfect life we had planned ♫

♫ I owe you a lifetime I cannot repay ♫

♫ Only in the next life can this debt be paid ♫

♫ We drank to our joys and griefs in the desert vast ♫

♫ But in love and hate, we stumbled till the last ♫

♫ Though I might walk through history's proud song ♫

♫ My heart still falters where love belongs ♫

♫ I’d have no regrets at all, if only you had asked me to stay ♫

Braveness of the Ming

Episode 02

This money is barely enough for me to buy a new set of clothes.

I can rest for a few days.

Deceiving someone so blinded by lust

is not challenging at all.

The quality of this jade is quite good.

I really didn't misjudge him.

If I used this money to help the poor,

they would surely be grateful to me.

Come, take a look!

Take care, sir.

Move aside!

Are you blind?

Qiqi, this is the rouge I bought for you.

Thank you, I really like it.

Lady, what would you like to buy?

Let me introduce you to some things.

This is our most...

What exactly are you doing?

If you're not buying anything, don't cause trouble.

You little wretch, let's see where you can run now!

- Pay up! - Wretch! How dare you treat me like this!

Don't you leave! Stop right there! You can't go!

Please come inside! Come again next time!

Take care! Welcome!

I'm so hot!

Have you finished?

Yes.

The water is quite warm.

It's really comfortable, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

- Have some tea. - OK.

Auntie, I finally found you!

Please save me!

Lady, are you sure you know me?

How could I be mistaken?

Two years ago, you arranged a match for me

and got me married off.

I do seem to recall something like that.

Are you Xingyu?

Could it really be you?

How have you become so thin now?

Auntie,

not long after I got married, my husband died.

I've been working for wealthy families everywhere

to support my mother-in-law.

Who would have thought the young master of that household forced me

to become his eighteenth concubine!

I really had a hard time escaping from his house.

Auntie, I've always listened to you since I was little,

even my lifelong matters were decided by you.

You must save me, Auntie!

Poor child, don't worry.

I will definitely help you.

Is there no law and order left in this world?

Tell me,

how can they snatch away a good girl like that?

They really don't take us women seriously!

It makes me so angry!

Please come inside.

Please come inside.

You've come here to seek your own death.

This is a women's bathhouse. You can't go in.

That's right.

Sir!

You can't go in, sir.

Sir!

Sir!

Officer, officer, sir.

This absolutely won't do, it won't do.

This is a women's bathhouse. It's full of women inside.

You, a grown man, shouldn't enter.

Aren't you a man too?

Listen.

There's a female thief inside.

He's coming!

Quick, sisters.

You go in. Go. Get some tools.

Get some tools. Okay, go.

Let's go take a look.

How dare he!

Move aside.

This is too much.

Sir, you can't go in.

Sir.

What are you doing? Who let you in?

- What do you want to do? - That's right.

No offense intended, everyone.

I came here to find a young lady.

If you're looking for a lady, go to a brothel.

These are all respectable women here. How dare you cause trouble?

That's right.

She is a thief.

She stole my things and ran here to hide.

What female thief?

Look at you, reeking of alcohol.

And you have the scent of women's powder on you.

This is clearly you using liquor to embolden yourself.

You come to harass and assault us.

Isn't that right, ladies?

- Beat him. - Yes!

- Hit him. - Stop!

Get out. Leave quickly.

Get out!

Get away.

Go away.

A grown man entering a women's bathhouse.

What are you looking at?

So shameless.

Never seen someone enter a women's bathhouse before.

I'll dig your eyes out.

Still acting tough? Still think you're innocent?

Really never seen anything like it.

Really.

Don't come back again.

Trying to catch me?

Lord Feng.

Lord Feng.

Both of them are not here.

If I don't leave now,

I'll miss this heaven-sent opportunity.

What's so great about the Imperial Guards?

What's so great about wealth and glory?

Neither compares to the freedom of being Xia Xun.

Take care, sir.

Sesame cakes!

Selling sesame cakes!

Freshly baked sesame cakes!

Boss, give me two sesame cakes.

Alright!

Here you go, sir, take them.

You here...

how many sesame cakes do you sell in a day?

It's hard to say.

Sometimes we sell a lot, sometimes we sell few.

It depends...

You don't need to give so much, sir.

Keep it.

Thank you, sir.

Hurry up, let go of me!

Stop dawdling.

You, a grown man, in broad daylight,

bullying a defenseless, unarmed woman?

What kind of hero are you?

I'll deal with you later. Hurry up.

She's so cunning,

she'll definitely find a way to escape.

I'd better not get involved.

Looking at her situation,

what possible way could she have to escape?

Even if I went back,

I'd be no match for Zhang Shisan.

I barely escaped myself.

Why would I walk right back into the trap?

Soon, you'll start to envy the dead,

because what's truly terrifying

is a fate worse than death.

Saving others is saving yourself.

Miss Xie,

I really underestimated you.

But don't worry,

I'll show you what I'm capable of soon enough.

What's wrong?

Scared?

You're such a clever girl,

so eloquent and deceptive.

Now you know fear?

Too late.

I've long heard that the Imperial Guards

are ruthless and kill innocents indiscriminately.

Today, I've truly witnessed your prowess.

No wonder the Emperor wants to abolish you.

How pitiful.

You only dare to target

defenseless commoners on the street.

You know quite a bit.

Good.

I originally intended to make it quick for you.

Since you're so interested in the Imperial Guards,

I'll let you experience our methods firsthand.

Let go of me! Let go!

What are you going to do?

Do what?

Of course, it's to finish

what we didn't do that night.

Miss Xie,

don't worry.

The night is long.

I'll definitely keep you company and have fun.

Don't be afraid. I'm here to save you.

How is it you?

Aren't you with them?

Who exactly are you?

Why do you keep saving me time and again?

This question...

Actually, I don't even know who I am.

Listen.

I don't have time to explain.

To save you,

I've risked my entire future.

You... what are you talking about?

What does your future have to do with me?

What future?

Hide!

Well?

Have you thought it through?

Do you want a quick death, or will you listen to me?

I've thought it through.

Why should I make things difficult for myself?

Then let me have his way with you properly.

Lord Zhang!

I was just joking with you!

Hurry, go!

So you've been acting all along!

I should have killed you long ago!

Hurry, go!

Go!

Still trying to run?

Little wench!

With just the two of you, you think you can deal with me?

You're far from it!

Guest, you're back.

Thirteen!

Thirteen!

Thirteen!

Thirteen!

Help! Help!

There's an assassin!

Get up!

Lord, save me!

Get up! You need to explain clearly

what exactly happened!

Stop shouting!

Lord, save me!

This... this...

Guest, you're back.

Now... what do we do now?

Thirteen!

You still haven't left?

Over here!

Go through the window!

Shisan.

Okay.

It's so hot!

Shisan!

Shisan!

Help!

Help!

Alright.

Where did the assassin go?

What exactly happened?

I... I don't know.

Go back to your room quickly. Don't make noise for now.

Go.

I killed him.

Fortunately, it went as I thought.

The ice pick melted within the time limit.

But now Zhang Shisan has died inexplicably.

Feng Xihui will definitely be on alert.

He's not as easy to deal with as Zhang Shisan.

Now, escaping will be even more difficult.

I'd better think carefully

about how to make Feng Xihui lower his guard against me.

I think pretending to be crazy and acting foolish is quite effective.

Maybe I should just follow them back all the way

and make plans once we reach Qingzhou.

Isn't this Zhang Shisan's waist token?

Indeed.

That assassin has targeted Yang Xu again.

You can escape for a while, but not forever.

But...

How could he leave no trace at all?

There's actually such a master among us.

How did Lord Zhang get assassinated?

Where is that female thief?

What exactly happened?

I don't know either.

At that time, it was only me, Lord Zhang,

and that female thief.

The three of us were in one room.

But at the time, I only knew Lord Zhang was reprimanding her.

Then the assassin suddenly rushed in.

To protect me, Zhang...

was killed by him.

Do you know

what the consequences are for deceiving us?

I wouldn't dare deceive you, my lord.

Then let me ask you one more thing.

Last night, when the assassin broke in,

Zhang Shisan even lost his life.

How come you don't have a single injury?

I find it truly hard to believe.

My lord.

Let me tell you the truth.

Ever since you captured me,

I haven't had a single good night's sleep.

I've been living in constant fear every day.

I never wanted any kind of

life of wealth and luxury.

My lord, I beg you, let me go back.

I don't want to be Yang Xu, my lord.

Why would I want to be Yang Xu?

Yang Xu is rich,

but even Lord Zhang died right in front of me.

I don't want money, I want to live.

Shut up and sit down.

It seems

I overestimated you.

Alright.

I hate men who cry and whine the most.

Shisan really wasn't wrong about you.

You're just a coward who fears death.

Forget it.

I believe you wouldn't dare lie to me.

Behave yourself these few days.

Once we safely reach Qingzhou,

what's yours won't be shortchanged.

[Guard Command Division]

What's the matter?

The latest scout report says Yang Xu is not dead.

What exactly happened?

From the situation at the time,

the assassin came and went quickly, so we thought the job was done.

Go on.

Recently, Yang Xu is returning to Qingzhou.

OK, I know.

Also,

Yang Xu's page Zhang Shisan died suddenly of illness yesterday.

Meng Tian,

this matter doesn't seem to be going

according to our original plan.

The people you sent out

don't seem to be very useful.

Sir,

just the incident of Yang Xu being attacked

has already alarmed Bai Yixia.

He's Bai Yixia's trusted general.

Bai will definitely not let this go.

That's true too.

But Yang Xu must be killed, otherwise

there will be endless trouble.

Otherwise,

I'll go myself.

No need.

We'll just wait for him in Qingzhou.

Now that Lord Zhang is dead,

what if more assassins come?

I'll return to Qingzhou with you.

Liu Xu will protect you in secret.

From today on,

we must intensify your training.

You must, in the shortest time possible,

be able to deceive everyone.

We don't have much time left.

You must appear at Prince Qi's birthday banquet.

Young Master, pardon the interruption.

Not at all.

Lord Feng gracing my humble residence

naturally brings great honor.

Regarding business matters in the future,

please pay more attention.

Lord Feng, you flatter me.

Since you entrusted the task to me,

I will certainly do my utmost.

Young master is back! Young master is back!

Young master is back! Young master is back!

Young master is back!

Young master!

If this person can truly be used,

he will be a puppet in our hands.

If he truly cannot be used,

then he is a source of trouble.

On the left are guest rooms, on the right is a small garden.

Pass through the central courtyard, go around the winding corridor,

that is your residence.

Be absolutely sure not to go to the wrong place.

Absolutely must not be wrong.

Or you could be torn limb from limb.

Young master, you're back.

Uncle Xiao!

I'm back.

Young master, you've only been gone a few days.

How did you suddenly become so thin?

When I saw you,

he actually felt you were unfamiliar.

You!

I've been exhausted from the long journey,

plus the deaths of Tingxiang and Shisan.

I'm truly worn out, both mentally and physically.

It really has been hard on you.

Young master,

I've handled all the matters you entrusted earlier.

Would you like to review them?

With you managing household affairs,

what could I possibly be uneasy about?

We'll discuss it tomorrow.

Young master,

didn't you specifically instruct before

that this matter must not be delayed,

and must be handled properly for the young lady?

But Tingxiang is already dead.

Young master, what you said before

was not for Miss Tingxiang.

Yang Xu is inherently lustful.

He has other women in Qingzhou.

Perhaps one, perhaps several.

Since Tingxiang's death,

I have truly come to understand

how impermanent worldly affairs are.

How could I possibly have any leisure or inclination

to meet other young ladies?

This...

Enough.

Escort Lord Feng to the side room to rest.

Lord Feng, this way, please.

Young master.

Walking a bit has made me tired.

What is it, Uncle Xiao?

Lord Feng is waiting for you in the study.

Alright.

I'll go over in a moment.

Old Xiao is meticulous in his work.

He truly leaves no room for error.

There's not a single flaw to be found in the account books.

Lord Feng,

do we really have to drive Uncle Xiao away?

You know as well as I do

that he is only loyal to Yang Xu.

If you can't bear to do it to him now,

he might not spare you in the future.

A woman's soft-heartedness cannot accomplish great things.

Young Master.

Watch my expression later and act accordingly.

Come in.

Young Master,

this is the wine we brewed ourselves.

Put it down.

Old Xiao,

you have truly disappointed me and Young Master.

Lord Feng,

I don't understand what you mean.

Three months ago,

I handed over a batch of antique vases to Young Master.

You recorded this transaction in the accounts, right?

I remember.

If I hadn't checked the accounts today,

I would never have known

that such a huge discrepancy had occurred.

This...

Why is the number counted now

so far off from before?

Lord Feng,

the accounts I recorded cannot be wrong.

Then it must be that you

had ulterior motives in this matter.

Lord Feng,

it doesn't matter if you don't trust me.

As long as the Young Master trusts me, that is enough.

Uncle Xiao,

you are indeed wrong in this matter.

Go to the accounting office later and collect sixty taels of silver,

then leave the Yang residence.

Young Master Yang,

why bother giving him silver?

I said I'll give it, so I will.

Young...

Uncle Xiao!

It must be that Lord Feng

whispering in the Young Master's ear.

That man is definitely no good.

Take good care of the Young Master for me.

Farewell.

Uncle Xiao!

Uncle Xiao.

It's you.

Dismissing you was not my true intention.

You are not the Young Master at all.

I know the Young Master's speech and mannerisms all too well.

You absolutely cannot deceive me.

You scoundrel, you really think you are Yang Xu?

You're still years away from being able to command me.

Lord Feng.

Where is Young Master Yang?

He's inside drinking.

Lord Feng.

Come. Let's drink, bottoms up.

Come, Young Master Yang, here's

a toast to you.

Please.

Lord Feng.

You've come at the right time.

Lord Feng, you've come at just the right time.

I heard earlier that you encountered some villains.

We were terribly worried.

Seeing you today, I am much more at ease.

There will surely be blessings to come indeed.

From now on, we are bound to have good fortune.

Our business will become more and more prosperous from now on.

I wish all of our businesses

eternal prosperity.

Come, let's drink.

Good, eternal prosperity.

Young Master, take it easy.

Young Master, I'll take my leave first then.

So many managers from the Yang family workshops.

So many of Yang Xu's classmates.

If you fail to recognize any of them,

you're finished.

You don't know how many people have invited me to meet

since returning to Qingzhou.

Since I can't escape, I might as well

take them all on at once

like a one-pot stew.

You really have the guts of a bear and a leopard.

Lord Feng, let me tell you.

at first, seeing so many unfamiliar faces,

I did feel a bit dizzy.

But later I thought, with so many people,

I wouldn't have to say much to each person

so it's not easy to slip up.

Besides, now I'm drunk.

Whatever I do

is fine.

You simply don't know what could have happened.

With so many people just now,

what if assassins were mixed among them?

Are you counting on the bunch of good-for-nothings

in your residence to save you?

I'm sorry, my lord.

I truly overlooked that point.

Starting today, without my order,

you are not allowed to go anywhere.

You are not allowed to meet anyone alone, no matter who comes.

Yes.

I will obey your orders, my lord.

You can't even learn properly. Completely useless.

Young Master.

Young Master.

Young Master.

Why so early?

Lord Feng has gone out.

Shall we go for a stroll at those places we used to frequent?

Take a walk.

Yang Xu.

Say that again.

You lied to me. You promised to marry me.

Now you've taken a fancy to another girl.

Yang Xu, you liar!

You ate so many of my buns over the years,

and now you've forgotten me.

You scoundrel!

- Alright, stop! - Scoundrel!

You big liar, I'll hate you for life!

You dare come here today to act shamelessly!

Liar! You big liar!

- Run, young master! - Yang, come back here!

Stop! You big liar!

- Come back! - Run, young master!

Yufei.

You've come all the way to Qingzhou with such difficulty,

yet you won't stay with me a few more days.

I don't mind the trouble.

Aunt.

I've already stayed with you for so many days.

I feel very bad about it.

Besides, I have other matters in Beiping,

I really can't stay long.

Although your mom and I weren't blood sisters,

and only met two or three times in total,

out of all the sisters,

I liked her the most.

It's just that her fate was bitter.

By the way,

that arranged marriage you had as a child...

That family moved away over a decade ago,

and we haven't been in contact since.

I don't even remember what he looks like anymore.

Maybe... he's a bald man with pockmarks.

What kind of women are these?

Young master, you're really bold!

You dare provoke the bun she-devil of Qingzhou!

Provoke your head! I provoked nothing!

Young Master Yang.

Who is this person?

I don't know her either.

I don't know her.

Madam, I pays my respects to you.

Young master, please get in the carriage quickly.

Miaoyi has been looking forward to your arrival.

Madam,

is this appropriate?

What's inappropriate about it?

Come in quickly.

Why is it her?

You...

- Go back first. - Yes.

Understood.

Young Master, quickly, please come in!

Madam is back!

Quickly prepare tea and snacks, we have a guest!

Alright.

Yang, if Miaoyi knew you were here,

she would be overjoyed.

Please have a seat. I'll call her.

Sit.

Sesame Cake Girl.

You don't remember me?

I don't remember.

But I remember it clearly.

After I escaped from Zhang Shisan's room that day,

I later discovered

his waist token was on me.

After thinking it over and over,

only you had been close to me.

I said I don't remember.

I'm not here to blame you.

But putting a dead man's waist token on me

isn't very decent, is it?

I only wanted to save you.

I really don't know what you're talking about.

Do you know me? Have you seen me before?

No, right?

And Zhang Shisan,

who is he? I don't know him.

I have to say, young lady,

how can you turn your back and deny knowing me?

Sir, whether I recognize you or not doesn't matter.

As long as my cousin recognizes you, that's enough.

I didn't realize

you know quite a few girls.

No.

I... I don't know her at all.

Whether you know her or not

has nothing to do with me.

Get away!

Young Master, you're back so soon?

Let me ask you,

what's the background of Madam Sun?

I don't know.

I knew you wouldn't know.

Madam Sun.

Young Master.

Aunt, you were looking for me?

Have some tea.

Yufei.

Did you know Young Master Yang before?

The one who...

the one who came back with us, that Young Master Yang?

Of course not.

Since I came to Qingzhou,

I've been with you every day, Aunt.

When would I have time to meet him?

Come, Yufei.

I think you're not young anymore.

May I introduce you to a family?

Thank you for your concern, Aunt.

After I finish all my business in Beiping,

I'll naturally consider it seriously.

I'm not rushing you.

You might as well

head back to Beiping right away.

Of course.

I'll set off tomorrow.

That's great. Come, have some tea.

We didn't catch the big fish

but hooked a little girl instead.

This doesn't seem like Feng Xihui's deed.

If it were him,

he wouldn't need to be so secretive.

Could it be that this girl...

One, two, three, one copper coin.

One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four, one copper coin.

One, two, three.

Bro, do you want a job?

Yes, I do.

Head south from here.

There's a place called Xiaoye Village.

Take this letter

and give it to a man named Hu Jiuliu.

Hu Jiuliu.

This is for your travel expenses.

Keep the rest for yourself.

Aren't you afraid I'll run off with it?

You brat!

Let me tell you, that Xiaoye Village

has both money and girls.

Within a year, I guarantee you'll build a house and get a wife.

If you don't go, I'll find someone else.

I'll go!

Go on then.

Thank you.

This is the third person already.

Surely one of them will deliver it.

♫ Evening lanterns glow, frost upon the moon ♫

♫ Candlelight flickers red where only few stars gleam ♫

♫ In her tower she sings, dreaming of home ♫

♫ Through wind and night rain, her gaze begins to roam ♫

♫ Sorrow under moonlight, endless are the nights ♫

♫ Dreaming of moments lost from sight ♫

♫ A rising sandstorm veils your face from view ♫

♫ Now worlds apart, with no path back to you ♫

♫ Love and hate, awake then gone like sand ♫

♫ We meet, forget, through lifetimes' shifting strand ♫

♫ Right or wrong, the song ends, but feelings stay ♫

♫ Two worlds apart, too far to see the way ♫

♫ Who knows her silent love, who knows her tears? ♫

♫ Who knows her heart, and whom it truly fears? ♫

♫ Who knows her tender thoughts, her hidden grief? ♫

♫ A beauty's fleeting dream for whom does life seem brief? ♫

♫ I'd give my all, through all the joy and pain, and never complain ♫