Original subtitles

[Pursuit of Jade]

[Episode 36]

[Three days later]

[Jingque Pavilion]

So many people today.

Quite boisterous.

Yes.

Sister,

you can't stand being apart

from the marquis for even one second.

Why did you have to come and join the crowd?

He showed me support when I entered the Capital.

Now that he's coming back in triumph,

of course I must be here to cheer him on.

Song Yan of the Ministry of Rites' Department of Internal Affairs

was appointed to uphold ritual practice and educate the people,

yet he failed to fulfill his duties

and was derelict in his responsibilities.

He is hereby dismissed from office

and sent back to his place of origin.

He shall not be trusted with an official post again.

Here he comes!

[Yong'an Gate]

-Here comes the marquis! -Here he comes!

[Guo's Restaurant]

There he is. Sister, come look!

He's getting close!

Marquis of Wu'an!

Marquis of Wu'an!

♪ The world is vast ♪

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

[Yong'an Gate]

♪ The storm is rising ♪

♪ Day and night ♪

♪ We strive to save the world ♪

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

♪ All people ♪

♪ Are part of the past ♪

Marquis of Wu'an!

♪ What's the date today? ♪

♪ How lamentable ♪

Why don't you come over?

What's there to see? I'm not going there.

♪ What's the date today? ♪

[Yong'an Gate]

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

♪ How lamentable ♪

Eyes over here, Marquis of Wu'an!

Marquis of Wu'an! Marquis of Wu'an!

-Look at me! -Please look at me, Marquis of Wu'an!

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

Look at me, Marquis of Wu'an!

[Xie]

[Xie]

Halt!

Sister,

why don't you throw a handkerchief too?

I didn't bring any.

Just throw one.

Anyone has a handkerchief?

Does anyone have a handkerchief?

Did you bring any?

What's the fun in throwing handkerchiefs?

Watch me.

I'll show you what should be done.

I'm going to knock you out with this.

What do you think you're doing?

I...

Go on and say it. What?

[Guo's Restaurant]

[Xu's Restaurant]

Who threw that hair ribbon?

Is the Marquis of Wu'an in love with someone?

Hyah!

[Marquis of Wu'an]

So many girls threw handkerchiefs along the way,

yet the marquis didn't spare a glance at them.

Which noble family's daughter the marquis has his eye on?

Isn't that the Flower-Crowned General?

It really is General Fan!

Marquis of Wu'an is into her?

[Jingque Pavilion]

General Fan is truly a heroine who can rival any man.

No wonder the Marquis of Wu'an only likes her.

So what?

The marquis is a battle-hardened warrior

-who won't be trapped by romantic trifles! -That's right!

That pig butcher you're fans of

are not worthy of the marquis at all!

Not worthy of him at all!

[Li's Wine House]

The Flower-Crowned General is a skillful fighter.

She captured Lord Changxin and won distinction in battle many times.

She will by no means deign to marry the marquis!

Stop flattering the marquis!

That's right!

Stop flattering the marquis!

The marquis, our hero, is mighty and extraordinary.

He will never settle for a pig butcher like the one you admire!

Right. What's so great about

-that lowly pig butcher? -The general contributed a lot in battle.

She won't marry that brute you call hero!

What brute? Stop spewing filth!

Quiet down!

All we want is just a good show

about a hero and a beauty.

Can't you stop shouting and yelling?

Exactly.

-Look at that! -I know!

You're going too fast.

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

Look here!

[Xie]

-Look here, Marquis of Wu'an! -Here!

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

-Marquis of Wu'an! -Marquis of Wu'an!

Look at me please!

The heavens are unfair.

[Xie's Mausoleum]

As I am getting old,

my memory is failing too.

I can't believe

I forgot to bring your favorite osmanthus cake here today.

You visit this place every year on this day.

Do you just hate to see my parents

rest in peace

so you come here to upset them once a year?

After skulking around for days,

you finally decided to show up.

Today is the anniversary of your mother's death.

Let's save the fight and feud for another day.

Anything can wait

till the ritual to pay respects to your parents is finished.

Come.

[Foster Family Unity and Harmony]

[Memorial Tablets for Xie's Ancestors]

[Foster Family Unity and Harmony]

[Foster Family Unity and Harmony]

You've dismissed all the Suicide Warriors.

Aren't you afraid

that I'll make you pay blood for blood, Prime Minister?

Your mother is watching right here.

Why would I put you in a tough spot

and disturb her peace?

Prime Minister Wei,

today, you finally know to show care for your little sister.

Seventeen years ago,

you returned to the Capital in the middle of deploying troops.

Did it ever occur to you

that my father and mother

would lose their lives for your rash decision?

Let me tell you this one more time:

seventeen years ago,

I came back to the Capital to quell a rebellion by imperial order.

Was that so?

Then before my parents' memorial tablets, do you dare to swear

a solemn oath on that?

Fine. Now that we've gone this far,

today,

I might as well share a few heartfelt words with you.

I raised you up

only with the purpose of enabling you

to shape a future for the Xie and Wei families,

[Foster Family Unity and Harmony]

to bring glory to our clans,

and to guard the peace of Great Yin.

That is why

I spared no effort in nurturing you.

Nurturing?

You were simply forging a handy blade.

It just never came to your mind

that this very blade

would eventually be directed at yourself.

And you are...

the one sullying the clans' reputation

and disrupting the peace of the nation.

You're acting disloyally and unfilially for being bewitched

by the daughter of our enemy.

Who are you to talk about the greater good of family and country to me?

[Foster Family Unity and Harmony]

Today, right before your parents, I command you

to make a clean break and sever all ties

with Fan Changyu!

What gives you the right

to say all that to me at this very place?

I spent 17 years raising you.

Does it not give me the right?

Do you...

admit it

or not?

Yes, I admit it.

As your uncle,

I am to exercise the authority of your parents.

Today,

I shall punish you according to the family rules.

Tell him

about the punishment!

The family rules dictate

that anyone disloyal and unfilial

shall receive 108 whippings.

Fine.

I will willingly take

all those whippings today.

Consider it my way to return your favor.

From today on,

stop saying disgusting words

like how I'm indebted to you for raising me.

Do it now!

Our illustrious ancestors

left a glorious name in history.

All descendants are instructed

to follow the righteous path.

[Foster Family Unity and Harmony]

Thirty-five.

Thirty-six.

Thirty-seven.

Thirty-eight.

Thirty-nine.

Forty.

[Family Creed]

[Foster Family Unity and Harmony]

Ninety-nine.

One hundred and four.

One hundred and six.

One hundred and seven.

One hundred and eight!

Yan Zheng.

Yan Zheng.

You shouldn't be here.

I really shouldn't.

But what about you?

You knew Wei Yan was at the mausoleum.

why did you come here alone?

Why were you punished with whippings?

General Fan, it's a breach of etiquette

for you to barge into the Xie's mausoleum.

I am not only General Fan,

but also the Marchioness.

Why can't I be here?

A marriage is not valid without parental consent

and a matchmaker's involvment.

On top of that,

have there been proper betrothal rituals?

As for him marrying into your family,

even the name he gave you is fake.

How can this marriage be taken for real?

I've had all the 108 whippings.

You're in no position to decide for me.

A marriage certificate is just a piece of paper.

Only when I acknowledge it

will it become effective.

Let's go home.

Not now.

Get on your knees.

[Memorial Tablets for Xie's Ancestors]

Father, Mother, please listen.

This lady, Fan Changyu,

is from Lin'an Town.

When my life was hanging by a thread,

she saved me.

When I was in sheer despair,

she gave me her love.

During my ten-odd years on the battlefield,

♪ In a lifetime of storms, a fleeting bloom ♪

I never felt like I was truly alive.

♪ The most beautiful scenery becomes a poem ♪

♪ For a chance encounter ♪

I didn't realize

♪ A single letter of longing, half a lifetime apart ♪

my life was worth living until I met her.

♪ I'll burn out my passion for you ♪

♪ Just for a glance ♪

♪ In this life ♪

♪ All that I can see or hear ♪

♪ Is that we'll live and die together ♪

♪ On this journey ♪

♪ You're all that I care about ♪

♪ My soul yearns and my dreams linger ♪

♪ After we part ♪

♪ Where love dwells, where fear lies ♪

♪ Just one thought makes me sick ♪

♪ I wish to leave this world with you ♪

♪ We'll never be apart ♪

I now respectfully announce to you, my departed parents,

that this woman

is the love of my life.

I will never betray her,

not until death do us part.

♪ In this life ♪

♪ All that I can see or hear ♪

♪ Is that we'll live and die together ♪

♪ On this journey ♪

♪ You're all that I care about ♪

♪ My soul yearns and my dreams linger ♪

♪ After we part ♪

♪ Where love dwells, where fear lies ♪

♪ Just one thought makes me sick ♪

I will never betray you,

♪ I wish to leave this world with you ♪

not until death do us part.

♪ We'll never be apart ♪

Prime Minister.

Zheng!

Zheng!

Zheng.

What happened to you?

Why are you so badly hurt?

I'm fine, Aunt.

This is Fan Changyu,

my wife.

Aunt.

Flower-Crowned General,

I have long heard of your formidable reputation.

When my life was in grave danger,

it was she who saved me.

We have pledged our lives

to each other and committed

to lifelong companionship.

Now, Changyu,

take Zheng away for medical treatment.

Zheng, get up.

It is cold and damp.

What brings you here, my love?

I noticed that you had prepared osmanthus cake but forgot to take it

with you.

So I hurriedly brought it here to you.

Zheng's mother loved osmanthus cake.

In memory of her, you would

offer it to her spirit tablet every year.

This year is no exception, of course.

Here you are.

What an exquisite box.

Was it made by a master craftsman?

I must have some more cake every day

so the effort you put in

won't be wasted— your hand was hurt for making the box.

Osmanthus cake is too sweet

to be taken too much.

Got it.

They make such a perfect couple.

Zheng's parents, may they rest in peace,

would surely be happy about it.

Fifteen, twenty, ten!

-Fifteen, twenty, twenty! -Fifteen, twenty, ten!

Drink up.

What kind of stupid game is this from your hometown?

I've been losing all night.

One more round.

-Fifteen, twenty, twenty! -Fifteen, twenty, ten!

Fifteen, twenty, ten!

Drink up.

Quick!

Master.

What's the matter? Speak up.

No outsiders are around.

Here's a letter for you.

I knew Xie Zheng wouldn't quit his quest for the truth.

To hell with that uncle-nephew bond.

Seems like it's time to strike.

Come with me.

What's there to do this late at night?

I have prepared a surprise for you.

I've got you a magnificent robe and crown.

What do you think?

Are you out of your mind?

This is an empress's crown.

I want you to be my empress

and the mother to the nation.

You will stand by my side

and rule the country with me.

So what if I become the Empress?

You're only looking for someone to share a bed with you,

so you won't be alone when your beautiful dreams all shatter.

What?

Do you not like them?

At this point,

does it even matter

whether I like them or not?

You told me not to kill,

so I stopped.

I have also promised you

not to hurt that little brat again.

What do I have to do

for you to willingly be my empress?

Kneel before me,

and beg me.

You're asking me to kneel to you?

I am the ruler of all.

What now?

Is that a refusal?

I beg you...

to be my empress.

I look forward to the day I become the Empress.

It won't take long.

Stop messing around.

Give me back the Tiger Tally.

[Xie's Mansion]

My Lord!

My Lord.

My Lady, what happened?

Bring him to his room.

Don't disclose a word.

Yes.

My Lady, would you like to take a rest?

I will attend to His Lordship.

Let me do it.

You may all leave now.

Unless it is urgent,

do not disturb us.

Yes.

Changyu...

After taking those 108 whippings,

now I can rightfully wed you

following the complete marriage rituals.

It turns out you had already decided

to atone for your sins this way.

Changyu,

will you let me take you...

as my wife?

No need for that.

You have long belonged to me already.

Mother Consort,

don't...

Mother Consort,

let me die.

This is enough to last you a lifetime.

Deliver this package safely

to the General's Mansion.

Then leave the Capital.

Go as far away as you can.

Do not come back again.

My Lady, won't you leave with me?

Qi Min's men have this place under close watch.

I cannot escape.

Once I leave,

more people here will die.

Off you go.

Go.

You're awake?

Careful.

Thank you...

for keeping me company.

You took many whippings for me.

How could I leave you?

I always thought

Wei Yan hated me

because my mother took the opportunity

to hang herself while I was eating

that plate of osmanthus cake out of greed.

I also hated myself for that ever since.

Later, though I conquered Jinzhou to complete my revenge

and became the Marquis of Wu'an,

I could dream of nothing

but that revolting scent of osmanthus

and the hem of my mother's dress dangling under the beam.

I am still that child...

who loves to cry.

I've never changed a bit.

Now you have me.

I can protect you.

You know what?

When you left Lin'an to look for me

and showed up covered in wounds,

I thought to myself,

"what's the point of vengeance?

I'm done with it."

I didn't want to see you cry.

But then,

I remembered my family name "Xie,"

and that my father was Xie Linshan.

I can hardly recall his face,

yet the barely

stitched-up chest of his

after he was disemboweled

and the 67 arrow-shaped wounds on his body

are still vivid in my mind.

Yan Zheng,

I've never blamed you.

Wei Yan is your uncle,

who raised you for more than ten years.

You've paid him the debt of gratitude now.

It is time you took revenge.

It's wrong to torture ourselves

over the mistakes of others.

I got it.

It is time.

When the royal banquet is held three days later,

I will enter the palace myself

and bring out the maids who bore witness to the truth.

I'll help you.

Come in.

Your Lordship, Your Ladyship.

The falcon brought back a chess record from the palace.

Mr. Gongsun cracked it

and wrote this note for Your Lordship.

What is it?

Wei Yan had an affair with a royal consort.

[Wisdom and Integrity]

This woman

is the love of my life.

I'll never betray her,

not until death do us part.

To Yan, my dearest:

I hope this letter finds you well.

I have missed you so much since we parted.

Every time I adorn myself before the mirror,

put on the clothes you like,

and watch the blooms and butterflies in the garden,

I'm sad that no one is there to share my joy with.

The elders at home

have consented to our marriage.

All auspicious signs have gathered.

Our two families rejoice.

[Consort Virtue, Qi Rongyin]

The six betrothal rites have been duly performed,

and all the ceremonial gifts are ready.

Now, everything has been properly arranged.

Your company is all I need.

I'll never betray you,

not until death do us part.

To Yan, my dearest:

I hope you can feel my presence through these words.

An imperial decree arrived suddenly,

summoning me into the royal harem.

Bound by the Emperor's command,

I have no other choice.

As I savor the letters you wrote me,

I feel deep affection.

Every word is engraved in my heart,

as if it is whispered in my ear.

In the old days, you would pin flowers in my hair.

The fragrance still lingers,

as if all that just happened yesterday.

The greatest regret in this world

is for two people in love to be separated.

From now on, I will be trapped in a golden cage,

but my heart will roam with the clouds.

If you see a wild goose flying south,

consider it a loving message from me.

From Rongyin,

in tears before departure.

[Li's Mansion]

Grandfather.

Guards,

take down my dear brother.

What do you mean by this?

You will understand

after the royal banquet.

So you've been feigning illness, Grandfather.

Wenkan,

do you know how you failed?

He who is to achieve great things must be decisive

and remain composed when emotions are involved.

Your temperament determines

that you will fail in every great undertaking.

I act for the best of the family

and the country, while you for selfish gain.

I'm not fated to become an unscrupulous man

like you, Grandfather.

You're such a fool!

What has years of loyalty brought

us the Li family?

What have we gained in return?

We have reached

a point of no turning back.

We must ensure the Emperor's grandson ascends the throne.

Even if he can't be a benevolent ruler,

we've embarked on a journey we can't turn back from.

Wenkan,

there are thousands in our Li clan.

You must stop confusing friends with foes

and siding with outsiders,

or the entire Li clan will be doomed,

and the foundations of Great Yin will be shaken.

To the victor belongs the spoils— it's a rule since the ancient times.

One won't devote his life

to his country unless personal interest is involved.

Oh, you...

All those studies

have made you a stubborn fool.

The Eldest Young Master must not leave

the premises unless I order otherwise.

-Yes! -Yes!