Original subtitles

Your Majesty, we will arrive at the capital of Jing.

THE CAPITAL OF JING

PAVILION OF MIRACULOUS MIST

So this is the capital of Jing.

It does look peaceful and prosperous

instead of being in great disorder.

My feet are worn out.

Tantai Jin, you're ruthless indeed.

Xiwu.

Hold this for me.

HOUSE OF TREASURES

Qingyu, are you here to pick me up?

In just a few days,

you got yourself a job?

It's all because of that stupid Tantai Jin.

-He insisted on making me his maid. -Xiwu.

This is the Jing Kingdom.

Don't address the king's name in public.

Why is there a wound on your forehead?

Follow me. Someone prepared a surprise for you.

YE MANSION

The new batch of tea leaves have already arrived.

Xiwu loved it

when she was still at home.

That lass is a picky girl.

She only loves tea leaves that have just sprouted.

But it has been a long time since we heard from Ms. Xiwu.

When will she come back?

Right now,

I'm picking out the sprouts.

This way, she can enjoy it when she comes back.

Father?

Ms. Xiwu?

Ms. Xiwu, why are you only back now?

Darling?

Darling.

Grandmother.

You're finally back.

Why have you lost so much weight?

And you've become tanner.

My darling,

you must have endured a lot of hardships out there.

Ms. Xiwu, you're finally back.

Grandmother, what's wrong with my father?

Get up.

Look who's back.

Darling?

My darling, you're finally back.

I missed you so much.

This is great.

Father, what happened to you?

Do you mean this?

It's nothing.

Don't worry. I'm doing fine.

I was just putting on an act.

Tantai Jin insisted on making me come out of retirement.

I told Zeyu to report to him that I was injured

and that I could only lie on the bed and drool all day long.

I acted like I was paralyzed.

Anyway,

I won't come out of retirement anytime soon.

I don't need to tell you all of that.

You must be starving.

Come. Let's have our meal.

Wait.

-Come on. -You should tell your grandmother and me

about what happened these past few days.

We need to catch up.

Rebellious son!

YE MANSION

The Ye family would have been massacred

without His Majesty's help.

Father, you were a mighty general back then.

Now, you're sitting idly by in our mansion.

Father.

His Majesty is willing to bestow you with the Three Armies

so that you can come out of retirement and defend our kingdom once again.

Do you expect me to draw my sword against my comrades?

You may be able to do it, but I can't.

I don't want people to criticize me after my death.

I, Ye Xiao, can't accept that!

From now on,

I'll break your legs

if you dare to step into this house!

XIANG TAVERN

Watch out.

You shouldn't drink when you have external injuries.

Pianran.

You're a grown-up

standing tall like a seven-foot man.

What's wrong?

Don't tell me you can't survive without your grandmother and father.

My parents chased me out of the house

right after I acquired my form.

There's nothing to cry about.

I didn't cry.

You look even worse than when you cry.

Forget it.

I've finally returned to the wonderful capital.

I'm in a great mood today.

Why don't we take a walk together?

So?

The night market here

is just as good as the ones in the Sheng Kingdom, right?

Let's head there.

Please take a look.

Top-quality fabric for sale.

Sir, what about buying one for your wife?

She…

He's a dummy.

I'll pick one on his behalf.

These fabrics were woven with Sheng Kingdom's way of weaving, right?

That's right. You have sharp eyes.

Many refugees from the Sheng Kingdom came to our capital.

They wove these fabrics.

Look.

Although His Majesty is decisive,

he's a benevolent ruler.

Some of the refugees lost their homes

because of war,

but many of them came here as they were unsatisfied

with the Sheng Kingdom's strict political regiment.

His Majesty has issued an order

to treat the prisoners of war nicely

and help the refugees out.

They were taught how to read, write, and weave

so that they could make a living.

-Good! -Excellent!

You're worried that you've made the wrong choice.

In my opinion,

you don't need to feel this way.

After all, you know better than anyone else

how tyrannical the ruler of the Sheng Kingdom is.

Once the Jing Kingdom wins the war,

the lives of the people of Sheng Kingdom

will only get better and better.

I only decided to settle down here

because His Majesty isn't a bad person.

Thank you, sir. Take care.

So for generals like you who have surrendered to him,

maybe His Majesty will let you marry an official's daughter

when you contribute to the kingdom and make him happy.

Thank you. I've finally seen the light.

I spent a lot of my time trying to convince you,

yet you always dwell on the same thing.

But you were enlightened right away

when I mentioned someone's daughter?

Wait, I…

Never mind.

I was just trying to help you clear your doubts.

Foxes like us are loyal friends.

I hear acrobats from the Sheng Kingdom are performing.

-Let's go and take a look. -All right.

Xiwu.

There are conflicts everywhere.

Men like them have no choice.

Both you and Bingchang

got married to Tantai Jin

and Xiao Lin respectively.

You have no choice but to wander.

Your father could not cope with that fact.

Now that I've reached a certain age,

I've straightened out my thoughts.

I just hope that the younger generations like you all

can stay safe.

I never expected us

to reunite in the Jing Kingdom.

Bingchang is the only one missing now.

I hope Xiao Lin can protect her

and not let her suffer any grievances.

Ms. Xiwu, you're overthinking it.

Even if Prince Xuancheng is gone,

plenty of men will protect Ms. Bingchang.

Why do you sound so jealous

when we talk about Bingchang?

Did she offend you?

Is it her fault for being likable?

Ms. Bingchang wasn't this popular back then.

The number of admirers only increased in the past few years.

I just thought it was strange.

Is that so?

Xiwu.

Zeyu. Is Father asleep?

It has been a long time since our family was this happy.

You had no idea.

Our trip here was hectic.

Aunt and the maids were scattered as they escaped.

The soldiers of Sheng Kingdom

were on our tails.

It was excruciating.

Luckily, Tantai Jin dispatched a group of soldiers to escort us.

That was how we were able to survive.

He gave us this mansion too.

So Tantai Jin escorted you guys here?

That's right.

Our family would have been massacred

if we relied on that petty Xiao.

He also found physicians to treat Grandmother and Father,

but Father drove them away.

In the past,

you used to hit and scold Tantai Jin and I often bullied him too,

yet he didn't retaliate against our family.

Why is he like this?

Yes.

Why?

Where are you going?

I'm taking a stroll in the palace.

What's more, on my way here,

I met a lot of civilians.

They don't care who the king is.

They will go where they can survive.

You're a wise ruler.

Not only me, but everyone else as well,

likes you and wants to follow you.

I've also experienced the humiliation

of being dependent on others.

If I can prevent the people from experiencing such suffering,

as a ruler,

I will be satisfied with my work.

Your Majesty, Ms. Ye is here.

Let her in.

Yes.

Why aren't you bowing when you come to see the king?

Tantai Jin.

Thank you.

What for?

Thank you for the surprise you gave me,

for treating my family well,

and for providing a way out

for my brother and his subordinates.

It's easy for you to say.

What?

Are you just going to say thank you

and move on?

Is that enough?

You…

You asked me to show more gratitude than just words.

The Soul-Slaying Spike is formed.

It's late.

You should go back to rest.

What?

Don't you have to wake up for duty tomorrow?

Yes, Your Majesty.

No problem, Your Majesty.

I'm leaving now.

Ye Xiwu.

I've never seen you so happy before.

You're happy because of your family,

not me.

Right?

I…

I guessed so.

In fact, you don't have to go to such lengths

to please me by enduring hardships

and humiliations for them.

My Spike…

Go back.

Don't bother me anymore.

I said, go back!

Men's hearts are so unpredictable.

Regardless of whether Little Devil God can feel love

or how guarded he is,

I can't give up.

Why did I throw a tantrum last night?

Ye Xiwu's reunion with her family brought her joy.

Wasn't that what I wanted to see?

Even if the reason for her joy was not related to me,

why would I…

From Shangyuan City to Kou City.

Did you keep that in mind?

Yes.

Baiyu.

I remember that you have a mother and a sister

at your home in Yiyue Tribe, right?

Yes, Your Majesty.

You should go home and visit them.

Your Majesty.

Do you not need me anymore?

That's not what I mean.

I'm just allowing you to take a leave

and reunite with your family.

Or if you prefer,

you can bring them back to the Jing Kingdom.

From now on,

all Moonshadow Guards

will have the same privilege.

Thank you for your grace.

I'm just not sure why

you suddenly became interested

in this matter.

Thank you for treating my family well.

No reason.

You're excused.

Yes.

Family…

Ye Xiwu.

You're now a maid to His Majesty.

There are so many rules in the palace.

Have you learned them all?

Why do you have time to read novels?

I don't want to learn. I can't remember anything.

What the heck are those rules?

No talking, no moving,

no burping, no farting.

I have more important things to do.

What things?

Making Tantai Jin fall for me, of course.

Don't tell me

that you're reading the romance novels for…

Of course.

I've memorized all the lines of the stories,

so you can wait

and see me perform perfectly.

What on earth is this?

This is the wishing lantern I personally made.

Would you like to release it together?

Wishing lantern?

Is it some kind of sorcery?

It's not sorcery.

It's…

It's a romantic gesture.

Just imagine.

Two people releasing lanterns together under the moonlight,

making wishes,

and watching the lanterns slowly disappear into the night sky

while silently hoping for a bright future

and expressing their feelings for each other.

It's so beautiful.

In other words,

it's useless.

Right?

Nian Baiyu.

Drag her out.

Yes.

Ms. Xiwu, please go.

Little Devil God,

I've been here playing for six hours,

so please come and talk to me.

I can chat so much with you,

from sentimental things to life philosophy.

Hurry up.

What?

His Majesty complained about the noise

and you've been playing off-key.

If you still haven't played enough,

I'll send you out of the city so that you can play until dawn.

There's no need. I'm done.

Bye.

Your Majesty, the morning drizzle is cold.

Shall we go back?

You've been standing here for a long time.

It will be time for the morning court soon.

What are you smiling about?

Your Majesty?

Nothing.

The music she played was awful.

According to the novels,

the more powerful a man is,

the more a girl should maintain her dignity

and not follow his rules.

Ideally, she should even scold him face-to-face

in order to get his attention.

Ms. Xiwu.

Get out of the way.

Tantai Jin,

who do you think you are?

Just because you're a ruler

with the power of life and death and good looks,

you think you can dictate to me?

Although I'm just a maid,

I have my dignity too.

Why didn't it work?

Tantai Jin is so cruel.

I can't believe he told the Maid of Discipline about this.

Your Majesty.

Do you really hate Ms. Xiwu?

Are you happy to see her being punished?

What else?

I…

I think although Ms. Xiwu is silly,

she's quite cute.

Who said she wasn't?

What?

Shut your mouth.

Yes.

This month, the Firewing Army has consumed 24,000 catties of rice,

1,300 catties of green grass,

and 500 catties of dry hay.

They have also slaughtered 50 whole oxen and 90 whole pigs.

The army's appearance is improving and their discipline is good.

However, two brawls occurred.

How did you deal with the demon beasts involved in the brawls?

They refused to change their behavior,

so I ate them.

Great.

This month, you can forget about having days off.

Tantai Jin.

-How are you so inhumane? -What?

Do you want to disobey my orders?

Tantai Jin, you're the ruler here and the whole Jing Kingdom is yours.

You don't need to rest, but we staff need it.

I've been working without rest for 80 days!

It's only 80 days.

Calm down.

I have an opportunity just for you.

Go deal with the demons in the west end

and then I'll give you

half a day off.

We demons have dignity too.

You're expecting me, a demon,

to catch other demons?

You're now a leader of the Jing Kingdom

guiding the Firewing Army.

You're responsible for protecting the people.

Understood?

Yes, Tantai Jin.

Loud and clear.

All right. I'll be on my way.

You'd better keep your word.

Half a day off.

Write your report once you're done.

Go now.

Just you wait.

I'll escape as soon as I get the antidote.

It has been 80 days?

Ms. Fox!

Why are you sneaking around?

You scared me.

Pianran, my dear friend.

I've tried all the tricks in the book.

Can you teach me a couple more?

Those tricks should be enough for you to deal with His Majesty.

Just repeat them again and again.

It's not enough. I want him to really like me.

How much more is that?

I should at least impress him nine times.

What a specific number of times.

I just want him to like me more.

Better yet, fall in love with me.

Come on, Pianran. Help me out here.

Do you really want to learn from me?

Then…

-we'll need some real moves. -General Ye.

Pianran…

There's a bug on your ear.

I'll help you blow it away.

All right. It can't hurt you now.

You can go.

QINGXIN PALACE

See? That's what men are like.

You get up close to them

and their brain freezes.

I'll pass.

Tantai Jin might feed me to the tigers.

You won't take my advice?

Well, it's your loss.

Come on.

Help me come up with something else, please?

Xiwu, what are you the least good at?

What am I the least good at?

I'm the least good at…

I'm really bad at cooking.

Yes, that's it.

Let me tell you.

The way to a man's heart

is through his stomach.

You can just cook for him.

Even dogs won't eat what I cook.

It's not about the taste, but your heart.

You must feed him with your own hands,

every day, every meal.

That will double the results with half the work.

Also, the worse it looks and tastes,

the better.

Are you serious?

Have I ever lied to you?

Go on. Get to it.

I'm a busy woman. You know?

Tantai Jin, I finally found someone to get back at you.

Wickedness befalls the wicked.

Wait until you get a taste of Ye Xiwu's awful cooking.

Baiyu.

What does this character mean?

It's pronounced as "tao"

and it describes the overflowing of river water.

Baiyu, why don't you go get some rest?

What?

Just go.

All right.

What are you reading?

An ancient book of Yiyue Tribe.

It's no wonder I can't read a single character of it.

What are you doing?

This character looks so strange.

It's like a worm crawling out from the ground.

What does it mean?

It means to sprout.

What about this one?

To smelt.

What about this one?

Kill two birds with one stone?

It means…

It means…

You don't know either?

Should we get Nian Baiyu to come back?

I think he might know better.

It means love.

That's it?

What's there to be shy about?

What are you doing here at night?

Can't I come

just to see you?

Are you hungry?

Get out.

Come on.

At least take a bite.

I spent so much time and even burned my hand.

Ye Xiwu,

it serves you right.

Don't cook if you can't.

But I want you to like me.

Give it to me.

This is the first time I cooked for someone.

I hope you won't mind my lack of experience.

I'm sure I'll improve with practice.

Does it taste really bad?

Not really…

It looks like I screwed up again.

I need to try something else.

Just spit it out.

I won't cook anymore.

Why?

Why won't you cook anymore?

Perseverance is key to success.

Besides,

I don't think it tastes that bad.

Ms. Fox was right.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

It works just like magic.

He can't even taste how awful it is.

If you like it,

I can cook for you again tomorrow.

Sure.

Here are two more dishes. Try them.

Maybe you'll like them better.

The Soul-Slaying Teardrop is heating up.

Ms. Fox wasn't lying after all.

I'll leave you to it then.

This is great.

If there's a will, there's a way.

I'll gather all the spikes I need.

Your Highness,

this is the demonic elixir just crafted by our warlocks.

Your Highness!

Why is it so easy for Tantai Jin to refine demonic elixir

yet so difficult for me?

Perhaps…

we are simply built differently from one another.

But you are as much a mortal as Tantai Jin is.

You're no different in nature.

So…

if Tantai Jin can master the Firewing Army,

then so can I.

Fu Yu.

Pay a visit to our allies for me.

Allies?

I'm not the only one

who wants Tantai Jin dead.

Don't give yourself away

since the king of Sheng is already suspicious.

Yes, Your Majesty.

General Ye.

I've known since I was a hostage in the Sheng Kingdom

that Xiao Yi is one to doubt others.

He even distrusts Xiao Lin, his only son.

The Sheng Kingdom has suffered heavy casualties

since the beginning of the war.

Xiao Yi must be feeling extremely anxious by now.

If I push him further now,

he will be determined

to exhaust his troops

and become a burden to Xiao Lin.

Am I despicable

for doing so?

All is fair in war.

The sooner we end the war,

the sooner our people can live in peace.

General Ye.

Since you grew up in the palace,

who do you think

is the far superior between the Sheng Kingdom's princes

and me?

Feel free to speak at ease.

In terms of strategy and wisdom,

you are inferior to none.

However, since Xiao Lin and his brothers

have been educated well by knowledgeable scholars,

you may be inferior to them

in terms of state affairs.

Nian Baiyu.

At your service.

Summon all the great scholars in the nation

to give me lessons starting tomorrow.

Your Majesty.

These old scholars have served the Jing Kingdom all their lives.

They can be obstinate.

I'm afraid they won't come.

Those who disobey shall be sentenced to death.

Your Majesty,

are you absolutely certain?

It's only to scare them.

I will do it right away.

If there are no objections,

let the lessons begin.

Your Late Majesty!

Your Late Majesty.

I've been faithful all my life,

yet I shall lose my loyalty today.

I would rather die than be dishonorable.

Are you all right, sir?

Your head certainly is hard.

You must have mastered Iron Head.

Nian Baiyu.

Serve the gentlemen with some refreshments.

We can start classes once this gentleman has cried enough.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Tantai Jin.

You vicious monster!

You've oppressed the loyal commoners and taken innocent lives!

You're an outrage to the gods and people!

Heaven forbid!

Well said.

Well said indeed.

If what you say is true,

that I'm so unfaithful, unfilial,

ungrateful, and unrighteous,

then maybe you should educate me

and make it a great achievement

to pass on to your descendants.

You…

You make my blood boil!

What should we do?

I'm so infuriated I could die!

We've let His Late Majesty down.

You're driving me crazy!

"From the king to the masses,

cultivating ourselves is inevitably the root of everything.

If the root is ungoverned,

all of which that follows shall be chaos.

Resentment by whom respect is shown

and respect by whom resentment is shown

can never cease to exist.

Our ancestors who illustrated virtue

throughout the kingdom

had to first govern their own states.

In order to govern a state,

they first had to manage their homes well.

In order to manage their homes…"

I'm sorry.

Why are you stopping?

-Go on. -Yes, Your Majesty.

"From the king

-You too. Go on. -to the masses,

if the root is ungoverned,

-all that follows shall be chaos." -Watch it.

His Majesty's work relief policy

is simply wonderful.

Now, the government policies are carried out effectively.

His Majesty merely applies what he learns immediately.

Before, Tantai Minglang's severe laws

made the people boil with resentment.

Now, they've been abolished by Your Majesty's order.

His Majesty has decreed.

The neighboring nations of the Jing and Sheng Kingdoms

were once unified with the same streets and same books.

Yet due to the tyrannical rule in the Sheng Kingdom today,

their people have taken refuge in the Jing Kingdom.

Local officials must welcome the refugees kindly

without exceptions.

Anyone from the Sheng Kingdom can settle down in our kingdom.

May our kingdom be in peace and stability!

Tantai Jin, you've gone too far.

I'll make you pay!

Your Majesty.

A woman has presented a token.

She has a proposition for you.

This is a relic

of the Jing Kingdom's royal family.

Let her in.

Your Majesty.

Tantai Minglang has lost his power.

What can he do for me?

Have you ever heard of the puppeteering spell?

My master has mastered the craft to build a Nether Puppet Army.

All we need now is men.

What we have most in the Sheng Kingdom are men.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

In time,

I guarantee this Nether Puppet Army

will be the answer to all your troubles.

These are Yiyue Tribe's occult arts.

You need to practice more

to enhance your power.

Tantai Jin has been working so hard lately.

He toils away from day to night.

Even his clothes have become loose.

I should make more good food to keep him fit.

"Tantai Jin."

Nian Baiyu,

drag Ye Xiwu out of here.

Neither has it shrunk

nor has it grown.

Should I spend more time with Little Devil God?

When is this going to end?

Are you going to hang yourself?

How can I make Tantai Jin admire me more?

I guessed it.

You just show yourself before him.

That won't work.

From tomorrow on, you can just stay away from him.

That's how a man is.

If you ignore him, he will care more.

Won't I seem mean doing that?

Are you trying to cheat him

or fall in love with him?

I…

I certainly don't mean it,

but I have to make him admire me.

The more, the better.

So that's it. Just take my word.

When will I gather all nine?

Perhaps I should try what Pianran said.

Retreat to advance.

Maybe it will work.

Why did you call me here, Your Majesty?

And when can I have

that half a day off?

I call you here today

to consult you about something.

If you answer it well,

you can have a day off tomorrow.

All right. Spit it out.

There's something in this world

that can make you feel so embarrassed?

Just spit it out.

Ye Xiwu hasn't served me for two days.

What?

Do you miss her?

Ye Xiwu is a royal servant and is fed by the court.

Shouldn't she fulfill her duties?

Then you should find her,

-not me. -I…

I'm so busy. I have to go.

Stop right there.

A few days ago,

she told me that she liked me.

That's why she cooked for me day after day.

Since she has been absent,

does that mean

she doesn't like me anymore?

Most likely.

I thought…

I thought she liked being around me.

My gosh.

You bad men…

You men

are just too self-absorbed, aren't you?

Let me ask you.

If you want her to be like a mother

who likes you and serves you every day,

then what have you done for her?

What gifts have you given her?

How many sweet words have you expressed to her?

See?

This is the problem.

However, there's always a way out.

So what should I do?

If she's absent from you,

you can go seek her, right?

Don't you

like her?

Can I

like her?