Original subtitles

(Royal Betrothal)

(This is a work of fiction)

(Adapted from Qidian's "Long Live Your Majesty" by Xing Yan Yan)

(Episode 2)

(Bofeng House)

Everyone! Today, Bofeng House is especially features...

Ms. Situ's favorite,

Spring Flower and Autumn Moon pastry,

made with different fruits...

harvested across the four seasons.

For only ten taels,

you can also taste Ms. Situ's specially-prepared drinks.

They're all here for you to choose from.

- I want some! - I want it! I want two!

I was wondering why there was such a strong sheep stench here.

Isn't this the girl I kicked out of the Women's School, Ms. Wen?

You're a stinking shepherd.

How did you end up doing chores here?

I wonder if Yan Fu Zhi...

is running a restaurant...

or a charity house.

Exactly. This place will be ruined sooner or later.

Grab her.

Let me go. What are you doing?

What do you want?

Let me go! Let go!

In the entire Women's School,

only Yan Fu Zhi and Meng Ting Hui dare to disobey me.

Now that you're working for Yan Fu Zhi,

doesn't that mean you're deliberately antagonizing me?

Mei Er...

I'm just here to work.

Please.

How can you call my name?

This sheep stench is giving me a headache.

We should give her a wash.

Let go of me!

Let me go!

Aren't you under Yan Fu Zhi's protection?

Let's see...

if she'll come to help you.

Don't!

No, please!

Stop!

Please!

(Bofeng House)

Let's go.

What exactly did Wen Xiaomei do to you...

that you're being so ruthless to her?

You're finally here.

I heard you hired someone named Situ Xue,

who's very popular here.

Tell her to come out.

I don't believe there's anyone in Shazhou...

who could be prettier than me.

Get out!

Trash Bofeng House!

Song!

If you dare to touch anything,

your family's silk business...

can forget about working with the Yans.

Mei Er, Wen Xiaomei has no power,

- but the Yans are very wealthy. - Stop!

In Shazhou, they are people of status.

My uncle is Shazhou's Governor.

He's backed by the Left Chancellor.

If you don't even have the guts to do this,

then get back to your silk shop.

Don't embarrass yourself in front of me.

- Get lost! - Stop! Let go of her!

Trash the place!

Smash it all to pieces!

Stop!

- My face. - Let go of me!

Blood...

My face.

Let go of me!

You dare to hit me?

You must have a death wish.

Where is that best friend of yours?

Why isn't she here to save you?

If I don't see Situ Xue today,

I'll turn Bofeng House into a pile of rubble.

Stop!

Didn't you want to see me?

Let her go.

Miss.

When did you get back?

This is none of your concern.

I'm going to do something I've always wanted to do.

Meng Ting Hui.

It's actually you.

You're just a lowly orphan girl.

How dare you pretend to be the capital's top dancer?

Jiang Mei Er.

I'll give you a chance.

Kowtow and apologize.

Pay double the compensation.

Otherwise,

we'll all die together today.

As if you're worthy.

Meng Meng, you still have to take the exams.

It's not worth risking your life to deal with them.

To deal with a lunatic,

you must use a lunatic's methods.

My life is worthless.

Taking power-abusing scions of officials like you...

to the grave with me...

is totally worth it.

Jiang Mei Er.

Didn't you want to turn Bofeng House into a pile of rubble?

I'll help you.

I'll burn us all to death.

Meng Ting Hui, you lunatic!

Now, you're scared?

Weren't you having a lot of fun bullying people?

Meng Ting Hui, you've gone too far!

Young Master Song.

You want to die with them?

I'll grant your wish.

Mei Er, since childhood, she's been a vicious and cruel con artist.

We don't need to risk our lives to deal with her.

You useless piece of trash!

I'm running out of patience.

If you don't kowtow and pay up,

let's all die together.

Meng... Meng Ting Hui, I was wrong!

- I'll pay! - You...

Fu Zhi, collect the money.

Young Master Song.

Tell me, am I prettier,

or is Jiang Mei Er prettier?

You are. You're the prettiest.

And what about Jiang Mei Er?

Jiang Mei Er is ugly.

A toad, a dung beetle, a slobbering mess.

You... You useless piece of trash!

Meng Ting Hui, Yan Fu Zhi,

I... I was wrong.

She... She forced me do do this.

She also scalded me with boiling water before.

You useless pieces of trash!

Meng Ting Hui.

I'll kill you!

I was wrong.

Meng Ting Hui, I was wrong.

I'll pay too.

- Take off all your jewelry. - All right.

Here. Help me take them off!

Is this enough?

Kowtow and admit your fault!

Get out of the way.

That kowtow was too light.

I didn't hear it!

I've done everything you asked.

Can you let us go now?

Why do they look like a mess?

What a pathetic sight.

What are you looking at?

There's nothing to see!

Walk in front! Get going!

Out of the way!

(Bofeng House)

One hundred and twenty.

Forty.

Twenty.

Ten.

Ten.

Meng Meng.

It's over three hundred taels.

Besides Wen Xiaomei's treatment,

it's enough to give Bofeng House a complete renovation.

I wonder how much...

these parasites have extorted from hard-working people.

It's only fair to take some back.

Think of it as robbing the rich to help the poor.

Take this money tonight and bring it to Wen Xiaomei.

Don't delay her treatment.

All right.

But Meng Meng,

you scared me to death earlier.

What if...

It was a trick.

This special phosphorus powder...

was originally prepared...

for Situ Xue's performance.

It just happened to come in handy.

Meng Meng,

I'm sorry.

I dragged you into this.

Shazhou is a dog-eat-dog place.

The Special Imperial Exam is the only way out of here.

Besides,

Jiang Mei Er won't let this go.

Trashing Bofeng House is not a big deal.

If it affects your Provincial Examination...

I study to become an official...

because I want to protect the people I care about.

Ten years ago,

I couldn't protect Xiang.

If I couldn't protect you today,

then I don't want...

to become an official.

Meng Meng, if only you were a boy,

I would definitely marry you.

Fu Zhi,

take it easy.

I can't breathe.

No, I won't let go.

I'll never let go for the rest of my life.

My Meng Meng...

will surely soar to great heights.

Then we'll go to the capital together.

Let's go to the capital together.

Fu Zhi.

I almost forgot with all that commotion Jiang Mei Er caused.

I especially made your favorite apricot peel cakes.

These apricot peel cakes were Xiang's favorite.

In a few days,

it will be Xiang's death anniversary.

That day,

I'll go with you.

Close the doors and windows.

Keep out the thieves.

(Watchman)

Close the doors and windows.

Keep out the thieves.

Let go! Let go of me!

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

Let go of me! Let go!

Let go!

Let go of me! Let go!

Let go of me!

Xiang!

We meet again,

Ms. Meng.

You're a con artist who'd kill for money indeed.

I only did it to protect myself.

You're far too petty, Young Master.

To deal with a weak woman like me,

you mobilized so many people.

Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed?

A weak woman?

Young Master.

You've seen her now.

The Left Chancellor orders you...

to return to the capital tonight.

Wait for me outside.

- Young Master, it's getting late. - Get out!

Keep a close eye on him.

We must bring him back to the capital tonight.

- Yes! - Yes!

I'm petty?

If Huo An doesn't work for me,

I would have been dead by now.

You betray people, and you're full of schemes.

Even if you become an official,

you'll likely be a treacherous one.

Since you're so powerful,

instead of taking down Black Tiger Hall and Ding Chong,

you keep making things hard for a woman like me.

That's not much of an achievement.

Those who dare to deceive me...

can only die.

Why do I always run into a jinx like you?

- Just leave already! - Go!

Can't you use the door outside?

You broke my windows and doors.

How am I supposed to do business?

Fine. Once you leave, don't come back!

Don't let me see you again!

You shameless man!

You jinx!

Don't come back! You're shameless!

After him!

Ms. Meng, you're quite the expert at scolding people.

Did you enjoy yourself?

To help you escape,

I had to sound sincere...

to make it look real.

Now, we're even.

Can we ever truly be even?

I'm thirsty. Serve some tea.

You're being chased, yet you're still putting on airs.

Ding Chong oppresses the people...

and commits all sorts of evil.

Why not go to the capital to file a complaint with the Emperor?

That's easy for you to say.

In Shazhou, without Ding Chong's travel permit,

I'm afraid even a fly can't fly out of here.

Those who sneaked off to the capital...

were intercepted and killed halfway.

It's a pity His Majesty sits high in the Hall of Supreme Harmony,

hearing songs of praise every day,

but never hearing the suffering of the people.

The Left Chancellor holds all the power in the Imperial Court.

Everything His Majesty sees and hears are filtered.

It's not that His Majesty is unaware of the people's suffering.

Someone is intentionally hiding it from him.

His Majesty's hands...

are also tied.

The two chancellors' pupils are intricately intertwined,

preaching the rigid codes of ritual propriety and moral duty.

I'm sure they look down on women entering the officialdom.

But His Majesty...

insists on using women as a blade...

to break this old, corrupt system.

In the future,

we must recruit more people from humble backgrounds...

and implement new reforms.

If you pass the Imperial Examination,

would you dare to criticize...

the Left Chancellor's pedantic ways in the Imperial Court?

I'll do more than that.

Darkness exists...

because there are people holding umbrellas in the Imperial Court.

One day,

when I enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony,

I will burn those umbrellas myself.

You haven't even become an official yet,

yet you dare to criticize the Imperial Court.

Good luck with the Provincial Examination.

Until we meet again.

I hope we never meet again.

He's actually a capital official.

(Imperial Ancestral Hall)

Your Majesty has been in seclusion for five days.

You only have one vegetarian meal a day.

I am truly...

worried about your health.

You must eat properly.

The Left Chancellor has arrived.

Left Chancellor.

Left Chancellor.

You can't do this.

Without the Emperor's decree,

no one can enter Imperial Ancestral Hall.

- You... - Left Chancellor.

Please don't make things difficult for me.

Move aside!

Close the door.

(Virtue emits a fragrant aroma)

Left Chancellor.

It's so late.

Why aren't you resting yet?

Did you come all this way...

to bring me a drumstick?

I'm about...

to starve to death here.

How ridiculous!

His Majesty's having too much fun in Shazhou.

Set off for Shazhou immediately.

Bring His Majesty back within five days.

Left Chancellor.

Just the journey to Shazhou...

would take more than five days.

Take my command token...

and travel day and night.

All the post stations along the way...

will have swift horses ready for you.

Five days?

I...

You impersonated His Majesty.

Your crime is unforgivable.

You should be executed immediately!

Five days.

Give me five days.

(Shazhou)

Your Majesty, I am late.

What is the military situation?

There are currently ten camps stationed in Shazhou.

But the barracks are in ruins,

with no one to repair them.

Countless weapons and shields are left to rust in the army.

The funds allocated by the Imperial Court...

have never been used for military equipment at all.

Using its status as a military stronghold,

Shazhou makes huge demands every year...

for military provisions and pay.

Xu Ting indulges them in every way,

giving them whatever they ask for.

Yet even now, the troops and horses remain weak.

When one man in the Imperial Court is corrupt,

a part of Great Ning rots.

Your Majesty.

Excluding the return journey, we have two days left.

What should we do next?

Ding Chong and the Ministry of War are in cahoots.

They're all Xu Ting's cronies.

I want to see just how much dirty business...

is buried under the sands of Shazhou.

(Shazhou)

(Bofeng House)

- All right. - Here you go, miss.

- Thank you. - Enjoy your meal.

All right.

Private Room One upstairs.

Gentlemen, here is your wine.

- Enjoy. - All right.

Here, cheers.

Meng Meng.

Meng Meng, look how bustling it is.

I thought that after Jiang Mei Er made a big commotion,

it would be quiet for a while.

I never expected that business would be even better.

Now, your stepmother...

won't dare to egg your father on to force you into marriage, right?

Of course.

I want them to look clearly.

Who says women can only serve their husbands and raise children?

We can do business and thrive just as well.

Why should we rely on others?

Well said, Ms. Yan.

Seeing Bofeng House's business doing so well,

I can rest easy.

I must head back to the school...

to study for the Provincial Examination.

Right. Meng Meng, focus on your studies.

Let's go to the capital together.

You'll top the Imperial Examination,

and I'll open branch stores. Both of us will go there.

Definitely.

I'll walk you out.

Officers, are you here to dine at Bofeng House?

We have private rooms upstairs. This way, please.

We're here by the order of Governor Ding.

Bofeng House serves unsanitary food,

and the building is dilapidated.

It is to be shut down starting today.

Nonsense! Bofeng House was recently renovated.

And I personally oversee the food quality.

How insolent!

The government office received many reports.

Your sophistry won't be tolerated.

Everyone not related to this, get out!

Fu Zhi.

They're doing this on purpose because of Jiang Mei Er.

We can't fight an official's order.

Who's in charge here?

You still have to take the exams.

I am.

I'm looking for Meng Ting Hui.

I am Meng Ting Hui.

You impersonated Situ Xue to defraud people...

and illegally collect money.

By order of Governor Ding,

we're taking you to Shazhou Prison.

This warrant says you're sealing the place, not arresting people.

The people of Shazhou are all watching outside.

You talk so much nonsense.

If you want to arrest anyone, take me.

Bofeng House is mine.

It has nothing to do with Meng Meng.

She's taking the Imperial Examination in a few days.

She's no longer eligible for the Imperial Examination.

Take her away!

Meng Meng!

Meng Meng!

- Meng Meng! - Why is she being arrested?

- Can we still dine at Bofeng House? - Meng Meng!

This way, please.

That bastard Ding Chong.

Shazhou is ridden with drought. Water is like gold.

The people would sell their children for a mouthful of water.

Yet he wastes it like this.

Young Masters,

what are you chatting about?

We were saying...

that the Phoebe zhennan wood here...

is likely hard to find even in the Imperial Palace.

The Governor says...

if something's good enough for His Majesty,

we should have even better ones.

This way, please.

Young Master,

I'll go and kill him right now.

Great!

You danced the best today.

I am pleased.

Rewards for everyone!

(A capable official in times of peace)

Young Master He from Beijian has arrived.

I'm He Du.

I run the largest business in Beijian.

I've just arrived in Shazhou for business.

I heard there's nothing you can do,

so I came specifically for a visit.

You don't look the part.

You came to Shazhou,

a godforsaken place plagued by years of drought.

What exactly is your business here?

Whether there is a drought or not...

depends on the Dragon King's mood.

In Shazhou,

aren't you the Dragon King who commands the elements?

You are indeed generous.

Tell me.

What kind of business do you do?

The business I deal in...

is what ordinary people dare not touch.

To be honest, Governor Ding,

I take the paths the Imperial Court forbids.

I like doing business with those who have such audacity.

However,

Shazhou...

has its own rules.

The "rules" are here.

Young Master He,

you are a man who knows how things work.

Then I wonder...

if my business in Jiuyou City...

will be secure?

In this territory of Shazhou,

even if the King of Hell wants a soul,

he must ask me first.

Look.

It's bestowed by the Left Chancellor himself:

"A capable official in times of peace."

Nowadays, even His Majesty...

must listen to the Left Chancellor.

With his backing,

in Shazhou,

I am the law.

So you are the Left Chancellor's favorite.

Then why stay in Shazhou?

With the Left Chancellor's power,

recommending you for a post in the Imperial Court...

would be easy.

You mean a promotion?

Those are all empty vanities.

How could it be...

as carefree and happy here?

In the capital,

I would have to kowtow to His Majesty.

In Shazhou,

everyone must kowtow to me.

Governor Ding, you live such a carefree life.

It's truly enlightening.

Regarding my business...

Uncle!

Uncle!

- Uncle! - My brother.

Uncle, have you arrested...

that lunatic, Meng Ting Hui, yet?

Can't you see I have a guest?

You're from prestigious families,

yet you can't handle an orphan girl?

- How embarrassing! - My brother.

All of Shazhou belongs to the Dings.

How can we let Mei Er be bullied by an orphan girl?

- I can't swallow this insult. - I can't endure this, Uncle.

All right...

I've already sent men to arrest her.

Crushing an orphan girl...

is easier than squashing an ant.

You should thank your uncle.

Thank you, Uncle...

I just got a new treasure.

- Take it. - Thank you, Uncle.

I'll get going.

- All right. - Thank you, my brother.

Go...

I've spoiled...

my niece rotten.

Assistant Governor Wang,

take Young Master He to get the travel permit for Jiuyou City.

Yes.

Thank you, Governor Ding.

Young Master, please follow me.

Hold on.

Young Master He.

Don't forget,

you must pay this much every month.

If you're short by even a penny,

the wild dogs in Shazhou are very hungry.

(Shazhou Government Office)

That corrupt official Ding Chong...

isn't just insatiably greedy.

He even treats human life like dirt.

Young Master, do you know that female prisoner?

We must make the arrests tomorrow.

Yes.

This is the deed to a manor under my name.

Pawn it, then use the money to bail out Meng Meng.

Here, take this too.

Miss, this is the last of the dowry your mother left you.

Meng Meng is in trouble because of me.

I can't just sit by and do nothing.

If my mother were still alive,

I'm sure she would agree with my decision.

Doesn't Ding Chong just want money?

I'll give it to him.

Slowly.

- Go. - Yes.

- How dare you! - Madam.

How dare you touch the Yan family's property?

This is the dowry my mother left me.

It has nothing to do with you.

Yan Fu Zhi.

In the Yan household,

is there anything your father didn't work hard to earn?

Look at you,

helping an outsider against your own.

How dare you!

I'll beat you... I'll beat you to death!

Stop bullying my mother!

Mother...

Song Er, be good. Song Er, don't cry.

I'll have your father buy you a new one tomorrow.

- Take him to see Master Yan. - Yes.

You've offended Ding Chong,

and the restaurant was sealed off.

Do you know how much silver your father must give Ding Chong...

to salvage their relationship?

- Let's go. - Stop her!

Get out of the way.

- Move! - Let go of Ms. Fu Zhi!

Think about it.

Would your father risk offending Governor Ding...

just for the sake of Meng Ting Hui?

He has already arranged a good marriage for you.

Behave yourself and prepare to get married.

- Let me go. - I don't know what kind of spell...

that unwanted orphan girl cast on you.

At such a young age,

she dared to hit Song'er.

She almost killed your brother!

I don't have a brother!

Less than seven days after my mother's death,

you already moved into our house.

It was Meng Meng...

who accompanied me through those difficult days.

I must save Meng Meng.

I must let her take the Special Imperial Examination.

- Let me go! - Meng Ting Hui offended Ding Chong.

She will never make it out of that prison alive.

Give up on that idea.

Wait.

Don't you just want to marry me off,

so you can have the Yan household to yourself?

As long as you save Meng Meng,

I, Yan Fu Zhi,

will put on the wedding dress...

and never mention doing business again.

Now, you know how to yield?

Too late! Let's go.

Miss!

Miss!

Let me out!

Let me out. Meng Meng's Provincial Examination is coming up.

She can't stay in prison!

She can't be in prison!

Bet big, and it's one, two, three.

Bet small, and it's three sixes.

- Creepy. This is so creepy. - Creepy. This is so creepy.

- Drink! - Here.

Bottoms up!

Young man.

Let's switch places.

You have good feng shui there.

Wait.

Come here.

The higher-ups said no food or water for him.

But now,

you're making offerings to her.

Let's stop playing.

No one leaves. Let's keep playing.

I heard that in those cells,

prisoners often die accidentally.

Now that Meng Ting Hui has fallen into my hands,

she must be suffering a lot.

Move faster. Stop dawdling.

Who else would I slap but you?

- Here. - Here.

Young man,

when it comes to gambling,

in all of Shazhou,

you're top-tier.

- Top-tier. Amazing... - Impressive...

If you learn from me...

for two days,

your skills will improve drastically.

Meng Ting Hui?

Meng Ting Hui.

Let's see how you can be arrogant now.

Don't expect anyone to save you.

Yan Fu Zhi can't even save herself right now.

Bofeng House has been sealed off.

She's currently grounded, waiting to be married off.

Even the wedding dress is ready.

News of this marriage has spread all throughout Shazhou.

Do you really want to get out and save your dear friend?

What a pity.

You won't get the chance.

I'll keep you trapped here forever,

wishing you were dead.

Come, take a look.

After all that fighting,

didn't your handwritten resume end up in my hands anyway?

Give my handwritten resume back to me!

Do you want to be an official that badly?

I suppose it makes sense.

With your lowly background, besides the Imperial Examination,

it seems like you have no other way out.

But it's different for me.

The backer behind my uncle...

is the Left Chancellor,

who is above everyone except for one person.

Above any backer...

is the law.

If the Imperial Court learns of your crimes,

they'll surely uproot you...

along with your backer.

(Handwritten Resume by Meng Ting Hui)

Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

Meng Ting Hui,

I easily destroyed...

what you cherish like a treasure.

Your handwritten resume is destroyed.

In this lifetime, don't even dream of entering the Examination Hall.

Mark my words.

As long as my uncle is around,

you and Yan Fu Zhi...

will never have a chance to turn the tables.

Meng Ting Hui, you...

Xia, quick!

Release the venomous snake!

Xia!

Meng Ting Hui, just wait!

I'll come and torture you every day!

I'll make your life worse than death!

Remember, a top-tier pickpocket must be fast.

Not even a red mark should be left!

Come here!

Ting Hui!

Let's go!

Ting Hui!

Guards! Someone escaped!

Someone escaped!

A prisoner has escaped!

A prisoner has escaped!

Who? Who escaped?

Meng Ting Hui. It's Meng Ting Hui!

Meng Ting Hui?

- Let's split up and find her! - Yes!

Out of the way! Move!

Everyone, move!

Out of the way! Move it, move!

A prisoner has escaped. Hurry, seal the city gate!

Close the gate!

Open the gate!

Why are you entering the city so late?

Where are you from?

The capital. I'm visiting relatives.

- Go on. - Close the gate!